RADFORD FACES PRESBYTERIAN IN BIG SOUTH ELIMINATION GAME

Follow @RadfordBaseball

LEXINGTON, S.C. – Radford will look to avoid elimination as the Highlanders take on Presbyterian for the first time since 2012 in a win or go home scenario this afternoon in the 2016 Big South Baseball Championships. The Highlanders will serve as the away team and are 5-2 all-time versus the Blue Hose as the road squad.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Series: Radford leads 10-3
- Location: Lexington County Stadium (Lexington, S.C.)
- Video
- Audio
- Live Stats
- Game Notes (Radford | Presbyterian)

ON THE BUMP
Wednesday, May 25 – Approximately 1 p.m.
LHP Mitchell MacKeith (4-6, 5.00) vs. RHP Tanner Chock (3-3, 4.67)

LAST MEETING (April 28, 2012)

The two teams split a double-dip with the Blue Hose taking game one 5-3 and the Highlanders earning a 9-8 victory in the nightcap.
Presbyterian was led by a monstrous performance at the plate by Brad Zebedis, finishing the doubleheader 6 for 9 with eight RBIs. The nightcap saw Zebedis go off for three home runs in a 4 for 4 showing.
Radford was led by a 4 for 8 effort from Brett Mollenhauer in the two games, including a 3 for 4 showing with three RBIs in a game two victory.
In game one, Presbyterian ended Tyler Costello's consecutive win streak of seven straight, handing the redshirt freshman his first collegiate loss. Costello allowed four earned runs on nine hits while striking out four in six innings of work.
Trailing the Blue Hose the whole game, Radford scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth in a 9-8 walk-off win to salvage the doubleheader.
The ninth saw Matt Mack and Cory Turner lead the inning off with back-to-back singles. Blake Sipe doubled to bring home Mack with one out. After the Blue Hose intentionally walked Patrick Marshall to load the bases for a force out, Mollenhauer tied the game with a sacrifice fly.On the next play, Zach Costello drove home the winning run with a double to the wall in left center, sending the Highlanders to their second walk-off win of the season.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 17-38
Radford and Coastal Carolina gave fans their money's worth in the third game of the Big South Tournament on Tuesday. The Highlanders jumped out to a 2-0 lead through six and half innings. Coastal Carolina regained the lead twice as the Highlanders would not go down without a fight in the 7-5 loss in the rematch of the 2015 championship game.
Radford falls to 4-4 in two-run games this season.
Colby Higgerson led the Highlanders with a 2 for 4 effort with two RBIs and a run scored. Higgerson gave the Highlanders a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth on a two-run single.
The two-hit effort was the 12^th on the season and his sixth two-RBI performance.
Nygeal Andrews and Danny Hrbek joined Higgerson with a two-hit effort of their own. Andrews collected his seventh two-hit performance of the season and Hrbek picked up his 15th.
The Highlanders out hit the Chanticleers 10-8, marking the 17^th time Coastal Carolina has been outhit by the opponent this season.
RU pitchers walked nine batters, including seven in the final three innings. The nine walks match a season-high set on February 19 at Mercer.
In three neutral site games this season, Hrbek leads the Highlanders with a 5 for 12 effort with a double and three runs scored.
Highlander hurlers have struggled against left-handed batters this season as lefties are hitting .292 with 20 doubles, six home runs and four triples.

SCOUTING PRESBYTERIAN

Record: 27-29
Presbyterian fell 5-3 at the hands of Brad Haymes and Gardner-Webb. Haymes tossed his second complete game against the Blue Hose this season.
The Blue Hose jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on sacrifice flies from the bats of Westson Jackson and A.J. Priaulx. The lead was short lived as the Runnin' Bulldogs scored four straight. Priaulx cut the lead in half on a solo home run in the seventh, but the Blue Hose were unable to push across anymore in the loss.
Presbyterian will be playing only their second Big South Tournament game in school history, since it became eligible for the tournament in 2013.
Tyler Weyenberg leads the team with a .357 average and 81 hits. The 81 hits rank second in the league.
Earning Big South Second Team honors, Jackson has posted a .338 average with 72 hits, 55 RBIs, 26 doubles and 10 home runs.
The 26 doubles rank second in the league and second nationally.
Presbyterian has been a doubles machine this season, tallying 110 two-baggers, including four players with double-digit keystone hits.
Tanner Chock found major success in Big South contests this season as the righty posted a 3-0 record and 2.61 ERA in eight starts, including a complete game two-hit shutout. The shutout came on March 25 at Gardner-Webb, Chock complied seven punch outs in the 3-0 win.
In eight Big South starts, Chock held opposing batters to a .198 average, allowing only nine extra base hits in 51.2 innings pitched.

UP NEXT

The winner of the contest will play the loser of No. 4 Gardner-Webb vs. No. 1 Coastal Carolina on Thursday in game 10.
To follow coverage of the Big South Baseball Championships, click here.

Print Friendly Version