Baseball 5/23/2016 12:00:00 PM

RADFORD TO MEET COASTAL CAROLINA IN BIG SOUTH TOURNAMENT FIRST ROUND

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RADFORD, Va. – Radford prepares to defend its Big South Tournament Championship, taking on No.1 Coastal Carolina in a 4:30 p.m. matchup on Tuesday. The contest is a rematch of the 2015 championship game in which the Highlanders came out victorious by a score of 5-4. The Chanticleers hold a 7-2 edge over the Highlanders in Big South Tournament matchups.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Series: Coastal Carolina leads 65-21
- Location: Lexington County Stadium (Lexington, S.C.)
- Video
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- Live Stats
- Tickets
- Game Notes (Radford | Coastal Carolina)

ON THE BUMP
Tuesday, May 24 – 4:30 p.m.
LHP Zack Ridgely (4-6, 3.24) vs. RHP Alex Cunningham (8-3, 3.93)

LAST MEETING (April 10, 2016)

With Mother Nature forcing the two Big South foes to play a doubleheader on Sunday, No. 20 Coastal Carolina completed the series sweep, outscoring Radford 14-6 in the double dip at a windy RU Baseball Stadium. The sweep marked the first time the Highlanders had been swept at home in Big South action since the 2013 season.
Game one saw Coastal Carolina plate three runs in the two-out rally on an Anthony Marks single and Michael Paez two-run home run, taking an early 3-0 lead.
The bottom half of the inning saw the Radford bats string together a couple scoring opportunities of its own. RU loaded the bases on a Colby Higgerson walk, a Luke Wise single and a Chris Coia sacrifice bunt that led to a Chanticleer error.
Danny Hrbek came through with the bases loaded, lining a single into right field, plating Higgerson and Wise as the Highlanders pulled within 3-2 of the Chanticleers.
Radford knotted the game at three in the bottom of the fourth as Jordan Taylor walked and Kyle Butler followed with a single. With runners on first and second, Higgerson ripped a RBI single up the middle, scoring Taylor from second base.
Coastal Carolina would outscore Radford 4-1 in the final frames, on its way to a 7-4 game one win.
Game two saw the Chanticleers score seven runs on 16 hits, taking a 7-2 series sweeping win.
The lone two RU runs came on a Jonathan Gonzalez RBI groundout and Higgerson RBI fielders' choice.
Higgerson led the Highlanders with three RBIs.
Coastal Carolina was led by a 6 for 10 effort at the plate by Anthony Marks, who finished with four RBIs.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 17-37, 9-15 Big South
Radford closed out the regular season with its first three-game series sweep of the season, outscoring UNC Asheville 21-7 in the sweep.
The series saw Colby Higgerson extend his hitting streak to seven games, going 6 for 12 with four runs scored and three RBIs in the series.
Over the seven-game span, Higgerson is 13 for 31 with four multi-hit games.
Radford starting pitchers yielded only two earned runs on 10 hits in 17 innings pitched in the three-game series versus UNC Asheville. The three starters combined for 13 strikeouts.
Jonathan Gonzalez has driven in five of his 19 RBIs over the past four games. In addition to the RBIs, Gonzalez has collected five of his seven doubles in the last five games.
Luke Wise went 4 for 4 in stolen base attempts versus UNC Asheville, including swiping a career-high three bases in the nightcap of Thursday's doubleheader. Wise became the first Highlander to steal three or more bases in a game since 2014.
Finishing the season with hits in 19 of 24 games played in Big South play, Danny Hrbek finished with a .320 average and 19 RBIs.
With five triples in 2016, Hrbek ranks tied for fifth in program history with nine career triples. The five three-baggers are sixth most in a season.
The Highlanders led Big South teams with 16 triples, with six coming in league play.

SCOUTING COASTAL CAROLINA

Record: 40-15, 21-3 Big South
Coastal Carolina swept its way through Campbell, finishing the season on a six-game winning streak. The sweep ensured the Chanticleers would win 20 Big South games for the first time since the 2011 season.
The regular season championship is the 16^th all-time for the Chanticleers, which is the most in Big South history. Coastal Carolina will be the top seed in the tournament for the first time in four seasons.
Connor Owings put together his best season in a Chanticleer uniform, leading the squad with a .405 average in 55 games. Owings finished with 75 hits, 48 RBIs, 15 home runs and 15 doubles. The senior stole 14 bases in 15 attempts.
Designated hitter G.K. Young was recently named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy, which is given annually to the top player in collegiate and administered by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Young finished the season with a .341 average with a team-high 77 hits, including 15 home runs and 58 RBIs.
Zach Remillard led the Chanticleers in home runs (16) and RBIs (59).
Michael Paez, Owings and Remillard scored 54 runs each; which led the Big South.
Coastal Carolina paced the league with 395 RBIs, including five players with 40-plus RBIs.
Andrew Beckwith (9-1) finished with the lowest ERA in the Big South with a 1.73 clip in 72.2 innings pitched. Beckwith only allowed 14 earned runs, while striking out 55 batters. In league play, Beckwith shined with a 7-0 record and 0.76 ERA.

UP NEXT

Depending on the outcome of the matchup with Coastal Carolina, Radford will play either No. 4 Gardner-Webb or No. 5 Presbyterian in the next round of the tournament.
To follow coverage of the Big South Baseball Championships, click here.

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