AFTER FIVE-GAME HIATUS, RADFORD RETURNS TO BIG SOUTH PLAY ON FRIDAY

Friday, April 29

RADFORD

6:30 PM

Radford University

Gardner-Webb

Photo by: RUHighlanderPhotos.com

AFTER FIVE-GAME HIATUS, RADFORD RETURNS TO BIG SOUTH PLAY ON FRIDAY

4/28/2016 3:00:00 PM | Baseball

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RADFORD, Va. – After a five-game non-conference hiatus, Radford returns to Big South play on Friday, hosting fourth place Gardner-Webb for a three-game weekend series with conference tournament implications. The two teams enter the weekend only meeting in 16 games in the all-time series.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Series: Series tied 8-8
- Location: RU Baseball Stadium (Radford, Va.)
- Video
- Audio
- Live Stats
- Game Notes (Radford | Gardner-Webb)

ON THE BUMP
Friday, April 29 – 6:30 p.m.
RHP Brad Haymes (8-1, 1.97) vs. LHP Zack Ridgely (2-4, 2.66)
Saturday, April 30 – 4 p.m.
RHP Jeremy Walker (6-4, 4.07) vs. LHP Mitchell MacKeith (3-4, 4.83)
Sunday, May 1 – 2 p.m.
RHP Bradley Hallman (5-3, 4.24) vs. TBA

LAST MEETING (April 4, 2015)

Radford completed the three-game sweep of the Gardner-Webb with a 3-2 Sunday win.
The three-game series saw the Highlanders outscore the Runnin' Bulldogs 14-8.
Mitchell MacKeith tossed eight innings of two-run ball on six hits. The lefty struckout six batters in the outing.
The Highlanders got on the board in the top of the first on a Shane Johnsonbaugh RBI groundout.
Gardner-Webb answered back with a two-run single from Matt Simmons to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.
Radford tied the game at two on a double-steal in the top of the third as Josh Reavis took third and Brad Keen scampered home.
Hunter Higgerson gave the Highlanders the lead for good on a RBI single to left field in the top of the eighth.
Earning his seventh save in the win, Ryan Meisinger struck out two in the final frame.
Keen finished with a 2 for 4 performance for the Highlanders.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 12-29
Radford brings a two-game winning streak into the series after holding on for a 6-5 avenging win over ETSU in the border clash finale, Tuesday night.
The Highlanders pumped out 12 hits, collecting double-digit hits for the ninth time on the season.
Danny Hrbek led the charge with a 3 for 5 day, including a RBI triple. The triple is the fourth on the season, all coming in non-conference play. The three-hit game is Hrbek's fifth on the season and ninth of his career.
Chris Coia finished with two hits and two RBIs. The senior now has three multi-RBI games on the season and 17 in his career
The game saw Coia get plunked for the 33^rd time in his career, which ranks second in program history.
Trevor Riggs has caught fire over the last nine games; going 10 for 30 with seven runs scored, six RBIs, three home runs, two doubles and one triple. Riggs is also 3 for 3 in stolen base attempts over the span.
In six conference home games, Colby Higgerson has played some of his best baseball. Higgerson is 8 for 18 with seven RBIs and three runs scored.
Of Radford's 18 RBIs in conference home games, 14 have come off the bats of Higgerson and Hrbek.
Ryan Sande has been strong out of the Radford bullpen over his last five outings. Sande has not allowed an earned run in his last 13 innings pitched.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB

Record: 30-14
Gardner-Webb reached the 30-win mark for the first time since the 2012 season with a 4-0 win over Western Carolina on Wednesday night. In the win, Justin Kunz drove in two runs. Mason Fox and Paul Trick finished with two-hits each.
Collin Thacker leads the Big South with a .412 average and 68 hits. Thacker ranks eighth nationally in hits. The junior also leads the conference in doubles (21) and ranks fourth in RBIs (39).
With the Big South's second best batting average of .296, the Runnin' Bulldogs sport four players with .300-plus averages.
Following Thacker, Danny Sullivan has complied a .364 average, which ranks tied for eighth in the league. In 44 games, Sullivan has 60 hits and 34 runs scored. The junior leads the team with seven home runs.
Gardner-Webb has drove in 240 runs on the year, including 12 players with double-digit RBIs.
The midseason favorite for Big South Pitcher of the Year, Brad Haymes has dominated Friday nights. The senior holds an 8-1 record with an impressive 1.97 ERA in 10 starts. Haymes has punched out 89 batters in 77.2 innings pitched, holding opponents to a .216 average.
The righty leads the nation in wins and ranks second in strikeouts. In addition to his impressive resume, Haymes has tossed six complete games, which ranks second the country.
Jeremy Walker and Bradley Hallman have been solid in the weekend rotation for Gardner-Webb. Walker sports a 6-4 record with a 4.07 ERA, including two complete games. Hallman holds a 5-3 clip with a 4.24 ERA.
Wil Sellers has been the best at closing out ballgames in the conference, ranking 19^th in the country with nine saves. The redshirt sophomore is 1-2 with a 3.35 ERA in 18 appearances.

UP NEXT

Radford will take a week off for exams, returning to action May 6-8 for a weekend series at High Point.
The Highlanders took two out of three from the Panthers in the 2015 series.
High Point controls the all-time series 26-21.