RADFORD OPENS COASTAL CAROLINA TOURNAMENT FRIDAY

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RADFORD, Va. – Radford returns to familiar territory this weekend as the Highlanders make their first trip to Springs Brooks Stadium since 2015, participating in the Johnny Gardner Law Group Tournament hosted by Coastal Carolina. The Highlanders will face Maryland on Friday, Ball State on Saturday and Coastal Carolina on Sunday.

SETTING THE STAGE
- Record vs. Maryland: First Meeting
- Record vs. Ball State: 0-1
- Record vs. Coastal Carolina: 27-69
- Location: Springs Brooks Stadium (Conway, S.C.)
- Friday Live Stats
- Saturday Live Stats
- Sunday Live Stats

ON THE BUMP
Friday, March 2 – 11 a.m. vs. Maryland
RHP Ryan Sande (0-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. RHP Taylor Bloom (1-1, 2.57 ERA)
Saturday, March 3 – 11 a.m. vs. Ball State
LHP Mack Krupp (0-2, 5.87 ERA) vs. RHP John Baker (0-1, 8.38 ERA)
Sunday, March 4 – 3 p.m. at Coastal Carolina
TBA vs. LHP Anthony Veneziano (1-0, 2.38)

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 3-5
Last time out, Radford dropped a tough 3-2 decision to New River Valley foe Virginia Tech in 12 innings on Tuesday. The Highlanders held a 2-1 lead after eight innings. Virginia Tech's comeback win was knotted on a wild pitch in the ninth and the Hokies walked it off on a fielders' choice sacrifice bunt in the 12^th inning.
Four different Highlanders collected two hits on the day: Andrew Szamski, Luke Belanger, Straton Podaras and Luke Wise.
In the game, Radford received a strong performance from its bullpen as Austin Ross and Trey Alderman combined to strikeout 10 in 6.1 innings of relief. The duo allowed only one walk.
Ross punched out a career-high eight batters in four frames of relief. On the season, the redshirt senior has struck out 13 in 8.1 innings.
Offensively, Radford has scored 16 runs over the last six games after totaling 26 runs in the first two games of the season.
The Highlanders have totaled double-digit hits in two of their last three games, combining for four on the season.
Ranking second in the league with a .455 average, Szamski has four multi-hit games on the season to lead the league with 15 hits.
Of Radford's 35 RBIs through eight games, Spencer Horwitz (7), Szamski (7) and Kyle Butler (6) are responsible for 20 of the runs.
The Highlander leadoff batter has reached base safely 30 times in 75 chances on the season as Radford possesses a .345 on-base percentage.
On the bump, Radford's pitching staff owns a 4.20 ERA with an opposing batting average of .253.
In two Friday night starts, junior Ryan Sande owns a 1.80 ERA with only two earned runs in 10 frames.
Joining Ross as a workhorse out of the bullpen, Austin Gerber owns a 1.29 ERA with a .136 opposing average.

SCOUTING MARYLAND

Record: 4-4
After winning the first two games of the season, Maryland is on a two-game winning streak after dropping four straight. The Terps dropped their second weekend series to Army.
On Wednesday night, Maryland collected a 2-0 win over VCU, totaling only two hits on the night. The Terps' pitching staff struck out 14 in the win.
With nine players taking 20-plus at bats, Maryland does not sport a single player with a .300-plus batting average.
As a team, Maryland has a .202 batting average.
Nick Dunn leads the squad with a .259 average, three home runs and seven RBIs.
Maryland has only been outscored 37-35 through eight games, but have been outhit 69-52.
The Terps have been strong on the base paths, swiping 14 bags in 16 attempts.
Owning a 3.99 team ERA, Maryland has 63 strikeouts in 70.0 innings.

SCOUTING BALL STATE

Record: 3-4
Of Ball State's seven games on the season, six have come on neutral site fields as the Cardinals have participated in the Shipyard Classic (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) and the Allstate Sugar Bowl Baseball Classic (New Orleans, La.).
The Cardinals are beginning a stretch in which they will stay in the Carolinas after the tournament to play a two-game midweek series with Gardner-Webb and a weekend series at Western Carolina.
Offensively, William Baker leads the Cards with a .448/.552/.500 slash line. Baker is 13 for 29 at the plate.
Colin Brockhouse and Seth Freed lead the team with six RBIs.
Opposing teams have outscored the Cards 34-31 on the season, while outhitting foes 57-53.
Ball State's pitching staff has compiled a 3.69 ERA, striking out 84 in 61.0 innings.
Four Cards have totaled double-digit strikeouts.
John Baker leads Ball State with 18 punch outs in 9.2 innings between two starts.
Out of the bullpen, Drey Jameson has totaled 13 strikeouts in 5.2 frames.

SCOUTING COASTAL CAROLINA

Record: 8-2
The Chanticleers only two losses on the season have come in one-run defeats at the hands of Indiana and Illinois.
Coastal Carolina is outscoring opponents 85-37 on the season, scoring double-digit runs in four games.
On the season, Coastal Carolina has outhit teams 105-76 to start the year.
Of the 105 hits, 42 have come as extra base hits.
The Chanticleers have totaled 28 doubles and 12 home runs.
Cory Wood leads the Chants with a .372 clip and 16 hits.
Coastal Carolina sports five players with seven-plus RBIs.
Kevin Woodall Jr., leads the team with 15 RBIs, while leading with four home runs.
Providing speed at the top of the order, Seth Lancaster has scored a team-high 15 runs, while going 6 for 6 on the bases.
Coastal Carolina's pitching staff has a 3.13 team ERA, holding opposing teams to a .226 average.
In 92.0 innings, Coastal Carolina has struck out 85 batters, walking only 29.

UP NEXT

Radford will continue its spring break swing March 6-7, traveling to Williamsburg, Va., to face in-state foe William & Mary.
The Tribe leads the all-time series with a 7-1 clip as the two meet for the first time since 2015.
In the last meeting, Radford took a 4-1 win on March 31, 2015 as Patrick Marshall drove in three runs, while Zack Ridgely struck out six over six innings.

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