RADFORD ENDS HOMESTAND TUESDAY; HOSTS VIRGINIA TECH

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RADFORD, Va. – Radford will try to get back on track as they conclude a four-game homestand on Tuesday, welcoming New River Valley rival Virginia Tech for a 6 p.m. matchup. In the last 10 games, Radford holds a 4-6 record, while the Hokies are 3-7.

The two Commonwealth foes met on Feb. 28 as the Hokies used a four-run fifth inning to take the lead for good as the Highlanders plated three runs in eighth inning comeback that fell short 9-7. Six different Highlanders collected multi-hit games, including two players with three hits. Matt Roth and Straton Podaras collected three hits apiece.

SETTING THE STAGE

Series: Virginia Tech leads (43-14)
Location: Radford Baseball Stadium (Radford, Va.)
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ON THE HILL
Tuesday, April 11th – 6:00 p.m.
LHP Andrew Nardi (0-2, 6.05 ERA) vs. LHP Tom Stoffel (0-0, 3.60)

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Current record: (13-18) | Home: (8-5) | Away: (4-12) | Neutral (1-1)
Big South (3-6)
Streak: L3
Radford was outscored by Liberty, 32-13, in the four-game series. Despite dropping three out of four, the Highlanders were only outhit 42-36.
The Highlanders are 8-2 when they outhit an opponent versus 4-13 when they do not.
Despite being outscored in that manner, Radford's team ERA was only 3.79 in the four games. Of the 32 runs, 16 came as earned as a result of the 11 errors in the series.
Luke Wise went 7 for 14 against Liberty with two runs scored and a RBI.
Wise collected first double on the season in game three of the weekend series against Liberty. The redshirt junior had three multi-hit games on the week, giving him five on the season.
The four games saw Wise raise his batting average from .161 to .229.
Redshirt sophomore Kyle Butler continues his strong season at the plate, remaining fourth in the Big South with a .362 batting average. Butler had four hits and two RBIs as week ago. Collecting a double in Sunday's loss, Butler now leads the team with eight two-baggers on the season.
In addition, Butler has a strong 15-game on-base streak going.
Matt Roth and Butler are tied for fifth in the league with 38 hits.
Freshman catcher Straton Podaras saw his play time increased over the weekend. Podaras was able to take advantage of his opportunities recording three hits and two RBIs.
Jonathan Gonzalez collected five hits in 15 at bats on the week, driving in two runs on two doubles. The senior is second on the team with seven doubles, while leading the way with 21 RBIs.
As a team, Radford ranks fourh in the Big South with a .264 batting average and fifth with a 5.04 ERA.

In the 13 games played at Radford Baseball Stadium this season, Radford has outscored opponents 93-68, holding a 139-131 edge in hits.
Of the 139 hits, 42 have come as extra base hits. Radford has tallied 26 of its 52 doubles at home, while clubbing 12 of its 19 home runs.
Spencer Horwitz leads the way with a .400 average, tallying 16 hits in 39 at bats.
Seven different Highlanders have 10-plus hits at home as Butler leads the way with 18 base knocks, while scoring a team best 15 runs.
Gonzalez follows with 17 hits, while providing 11 of his 21 RBIs at home.

SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH

Current record: (17-17) | Home: (10-6) | Away: (7-11) | Neural (0-0)
ACC (6-9)
Streak: L4
The Hokies are extremely battle tested this year, having played two series against teams nationally ranked in the top five (No. 1 Florida State and No. 4 Clemson).
Redshirt sophomore Jack Owens has been nothing but reliable this season, leading the team with a .377 batting average and swiping a team high six bases.
Owens leads the country with 57 hits, averaging 1.68 per game, which is fifth best. Of the 57 hits, seven of them have gone for doubles and two have been stretched to triples.
Virginia Tech lives for the long ball as the Hokies are first in the nation with 59 home runs, averaging 1.74 per game.
Sam Fragale has been a major factor in guiding the Hokies to that honor as the redshirt junior ranks fifth in the land with 13 home runs.
Fragale's ability to hit the long ball with runners on base has led to a whopping 47 RBIs in the first 34 games. That number is fourth best country.
Senior Ryan Tufts possesses a solid .343 batting average, ranking second on the squad., while leading the team with 15 doubles. Tufts have proved to patient at the dish, drawing a team-high 21 walks.
Tom Stoffel, Tufts and Fragale rank behind Owens with 46 hits each.
Nine Hokies have 10-plus RBIs, including five with 20-plus.
As a team, Virginia Tech is seventh in the nation with 35 double plays.
Seven different pitchers have started a game for the Hokies this season.
Combined, Virginia Tech owns a 5.67 ERA, ranking 13^th in the ACC.
Virginia Tech joins Radford with three shutouts to its credit, however the Hokies offense has yet to be shutout.
Closer Aaron McGarity provides Virginia Tech with its best option out of the bullpen. Entering the game with five saves, McGarity has punched out 25 batters in 19.1 innings.
McGarity's 3.72 ERA is the lowest among Hokies that have not started a game on the bump.
Virginia Tech is 17-8 in games played in Radford, while head coach Patrick Mason is 5-4 in the all-time series.

ON DECK

After the final game of the homestand, Radford will have a quick turnaround, traveling to Campbell for a three-game Big South series starting on Thursday.
Radford took the 2016 series two games to one.
Campbell leads the all-time series 27-20, but have not won a series over the Highlanders since 2012 sweep.

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