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Radford Athletics Communications

Baseball

RADFORD AND VIRGINIA TECH MEET TUESDAY IN BLACKSBURG



RADFORD, Va. – Radford and Virginia Tech will meet for the 59th time in the battle between New River Valley foes as the Highlanders will be the Hokies first opponent inside the newly remodeled English Field at Union Park on Tuesday.
 
GAME INFORMATION
  • Opponent: Virginia Tech (2-5)
  • Date: Tuesday, February 27
  • Time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Location: Union Park | Blacksburg, Va.
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ON THE BUMP
LHP Hunter Williams (0-0, 9.82) vs. RHP Nic Enright (0-1, 6.75)

SERIES HISTORY
  • Virginia Tech leads the all-time series 44-14 as the Highlanders look for their first win inside Union Park since a 15-7 decision on April 6, 2015.
  • Since 2015, Radford is 4-3 against the Hokies.
  • Virginia Tech outscored Radford 26-13 in two games during the 2017 season.
  • In the last two games played inside Union Park, Radford has a 20-16 edge in hits.
  • A season ago, Radford dropped a 9-7 decision in Blacksburg on Feb. 28, 2017. Matt Roth and Straton Podaras led with three hits each. Richard De la Cruz and Roth had two RBIs each.  
     
HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS
  • Record: 3-4
  • Radford looked to collect its second straight series win at Jacksonville State, but only managed one win in the series. Jacksonville State outscored Radford 14-11 in the series as the first two games were decided by three runs or less.
  • The Highlanders managed 17 hits, while the Gamecocks finished with 20 in the series.
  • Locked at one in the series, Jacksonville State's pitching staff tossed a combined no-hitter as Radford managed only five base runners in a 5-0 loss in the second game of Saturday's double-dip.
  • Continuing his hot streak, Andrew Szamski went 5 for 12 in the series with one RBI. Szamski picked up his second four-hit game on the season in game one.
  • Szamski is second in the league with a .464 average, while his 13 hits are tied for fourth.
  • Kyle Butler followed with a 3 for 13 performance at the dish with three RBIs. Butler had a three-hit, three-RBI game in Radford's only win of the series.
  • In Saturday's doubleheader, Butler reached base five times, improving his on-base percentage to .424.
  • Butler leads the team with four multi-hit games, while Szamski follows with three multi-hit performances.
  • Connecting for a two-run home run in game one of the series, Spencer Horwitz is tied with Szamski with a team best seven RBIs.
  • Over the weekend, Radford's bullpen struck out 12 in 15.1 innings of work.
  • Radford's pitching staff possesses a 4.55 ERA with a .265 opposing average.

SCOUTING VIRGINIA TECH
  • Record: 2-5
  • Virginia Tech opened the season with two tournaments, participating in the Coastal Carolina Tournament and the University of New Orleans Tournament.
  • The Hokies have wins over Oklahoma (14-6) and Ball State (4-2).
  • Virginia Tech has been outscored 44-33 on the season, but outhitting teams 59-57.
  • Commanding a .257 team average, Virginia Tech has collected 28 RBIs in seven games.
  • One of the best home run hitting teams in the country a season ago, Virginia Tech only has four to start the season as junior college transfer Nick Menken has totaled two round-trippers, while leading the team with seven RBIs.
  • Fellow juco transfer Luke Horanski is second on the team with six RBIs.
  • Redshirt senior Tom Stoffel leads the Hokies with a .379 average and 11 hits.
  • With a team ERA of 5.19, closer Andrew McDonald has been the best Hokie out of the bullpen with 10 strikeouts in 7.2 innings.
  • Tuesday starter Nic Enright has started one of the two games he's appeared in, taking a loss and collecting a save. Enright has six strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Opposing teams are hitting .273 off the righty.
 
UP NEXT
  • Radford returns to familiar territory this upcoming weekend as the Highlanders will take part in the Johnny Gardner Law Group Tournament, hosted by former Big South foe Coastal Carolina.
  • The Highlanders will face Maryland on Friday, Ball State on Saturday and Coastal Carolina on Sunday.
  • Radford has never faced Maryland and dropped the only meeting with Ball State in 2003. Coastal Carolina leads the all-time series 69-27.
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Players Mentioned

Kyle Butler

#9 Kyle Butler

INF
5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Richard De la Cruz

#12 Richard De la Cruz

OF
6' 0"
Sophomore
S/R
Spencer Horwitz

#13 Spencer Horwitz

INF
6' 0"
Sophomore
L/R
Straton Podaras

#5 Straton Podaras

C
5' 11"
Sophomore
R/R
Matt Roth

#15 Matt Roth

INF
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Andrew Szamski

#8 Andrew Szamski

OF
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Hunter Williams

#7 Hunter Williams

LHP
6' 3"
Freshman
L/L

Players Mentioned

Kyle Butler

#9 Kyle Butler

5' 9"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
INF
Richard De la Cruz

#12 Richard De la Cruz

6' 0"
Sophomore
S/R
OF
Spencer Horwitz

#13 Spencer Horwitz

6' 0"
Sophomore
L/R
INF
Straton Podaras

#5 Straton Podaras

5' 11"
Sophomore
R/R
C
Matt Roth

#15 Matt Roth

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
INF
Andrew Szamski

#8 Andrew Szamski

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
OF
Hunter Williams

#7 Hunter Williams

6' 3"
Freshman
L/L
LHP