RADFORD AND NO. 20 COASTAL CAROLINA MEET IN BIG SOUTH BATTLE

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RADFORD, Va. – Mother Nature has forced some schedule changes in Radford's Big South weekend series versus No. 20 Coastal Carolina. Due to anticipated weather in the New River Valley, the two foes will play tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. in the first meeting since the 2015 Big South Tournament Championship in which the Highlanders were victorious 5-4.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Series: Coastal Carolina leads 62-21
- Location: RU Baseball Stadium (Radford, Va.)
- Video (Friday and Sunday)
- Audio
- Live Stats
- Game Notes (Radford | Coastal Carolina)

ON THE BUMP
Friday, April 8 – 3:30 p.m.
RHP Alex Cunningham (4-1, 5.45) vs. LHP Zack Ridgely (2-2, 2.47)
Sunday, April 9 – 4 p.m.
RHP Bobby Holmes (3-1, 5.04) vs. RHP Dylan Nelson (0-6, 4.74)
Sunday, April 10 – 2 p.m.
RHP Tyler Poole (4-2, 3.15) vs. LHP Mitchell MacKeith (3-1, 3.28)

LAST MEETING (May 23, 2015)

Radford and Coastal Carolina met in the 2015 Big South Tournament Championship after the Highlanders went 2-1 versus the Chanticleers in the regular season.
Brad Keen got RU on the board with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second.
Coastal Carolina fought back, taking a 4-1 lead after a four-run fourth inning. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Tyler Chadwick.
Radford loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth, adding runs on a Josh Reavis single and Patrick Marshall sac fly, pulling within 4-3 of the Chanticleers.
Aaron Scoville knotted the game at four on a groundball to third base, scoring Reavis from third. Scoville reached on a throwing error by the Chanticleer third basemen, loading the bases. RU was unable to take the lead with only one out in the inning.
RU closer Ryan Meisinger retired the Chanticleers in order to begin the ninth inning, setting up a comeback opportunity for the Highlanders.
Tied at four in the ninth inning, Chris Coia and Shane Johnsonbaugh got the inning started with back-to-back singles. Following two strikeouts, Coia swiped third, putting Highlander runners on the corners.
With 2-2 count and two outs, Hunter Higgerson lifted a single into left field, scoring Coia from third as the Highlanders captured their first Big South Tournament Championship.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 8-21, 3-3 Big South
Radford dropped its eighth one-run contest in an 8-7 decision to VMI in the in-state battle on Tuesday.
The Highlanders controlled a 4-1 lead after six innings, but the Keydet offense exploded for a seven-run seventh inning, taking an 8-4 lead.
RU battled back with two runs in the bottom half of the frame on a double steal and Colby Higgerson single. A VMI wild pitch allowed the Highlanders to come within 8-7, but was unable to tie the contest.
Earning his sixth career start, Adam Whitacre finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored and a RBI.
Higgerson has caught fire of late, going for 6 for 11 over the last three games, collecting two hits in each contest. The freshman shortstop has driven in five of his 10 RBIs in the last five games.
With eight sacrifice bunts, Higgerson is tied for the Big South lead and ranks 17th in the country.
The duo of Zack Ridgely and Mitchell MacKeith has been the backbone of the RU pitching rotation. The southpaws have combined for a 5-3 record and 2.82 ERA in 13 starts.
In 47.1 innings, Ridgely has only walked 10 batters. MacKeith has surrendered only five free passes in 35.2 innings.
MacKeith ranks third in the league and 43rd nationally in walks allowed per nine innings with 1.26.

SCOUTING No. 20 COASTAL CAROLINA

Record: 20-10, 5-1
Coastal Carolina had its seven-game winning streak snapped at the hands of No. 6 South Carolina on Tuesday. The Chanticleers fell behind 3-0 after four innings.
After a Gamecock error in the fifth and Connor Owings RBI single in the sixth, Coastal Carolina pulled within 3-2. South Carolina added a late insurance run, holding on for a 4-2 win.
Possessing a team batting average of .303, Coastal Carolina sports five players with a .300-plus average and three with a .280-plus average.
Zach Remillard and G.K. Young highlight the potent offense. Remillard leads the Chanticleers in batting average (.387), hits (46), runs (30), doubles (10) and home runs (8). Young follows with a .369 average, 45 hits, six home runs and 34 RBIs.
Remillard ranks 15th nationally in hits and Young is 27th overall.
One of the fastest players on the diamond in the Big South, Billy Cooke is 14 for 18 on stolen bases. Cooke is tied with Higgerson with eight sac bunts.
In addition to its offense, Coastal Carolina holds a 4.21 ERA, punching out 247 batters in 267 innings pitched.
Tyler Poole highlights the Chanticleer weekend rotation with a 4-2 record and 3.15 ERA. Opposing batters hitting a minimal .225 off the righty.
The backend of the bullpen is manned by Mike Morrison and his 0.64 ERA. Morrison has allowed only two earned runs in 28 innings of work. The senior has tallied 36 strikeouts in 14 appearances.

UP NEXT

Radford and Virginia Tech meet in the New River Valley showdown finale on April 12 at Calfee Park in Pulaski, Va.
The season series is tied 1-1 with each team winning on its home turf.
The Highlanders are looking to keep the momentum going after earning a 12-8 victory on March 22 to even the series.
First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.

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