RADFORD WELCOMES GARDNER-WEBB FOR THREE-GAME SERIES

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SETTING THE STAGE

Opponent: Gardner-Webb
Series: Radford leads (14-9)
Location: Carter Memorial Stadium (Radford, Va.)
Radford and Gardner-Webb have not met since 2016. The Highlanders took the series, while taking an 8-4 win in the Big South Tournament.
In the four games in 2016, Radford held a slight 19-18 run edge.
The two foes meet in March for the first time in the all-time series.
Radford is 5-5 all-time at home in the series.
Since 2012, Radford is 9-4 against the Runnin' Bulldogs as they also lead the series 14-9.
Game Notes
Live Stats
Live Audio
Live Video (Thursday | Friday | Saturday)

ON THE HILL
Thursday, March 29 – 6 p.m.
RHP Ryan Sande (0-1, 3.33) vs. RHP Landon Mitchell (2-4, 5.01)
Friday, March 30 – 6 p.m.
LHP Hunter Williams (0-1, 4.56) vs. RHP Bradley Hallman (3-1, 3.03)
Saturday, March 31 – 2 p.m.
RHP Austin Ross (5-2, 3.13) vs. RHP Mason Fox (2-3, 5.55)

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Current record: (10-13) | Home: (4-2) | Away: (6-9) | Neutral (0-2)
Big South (2-4)
Streak: W2
In Radford's last two wins the Highlanders have scored 26 runs on 27 hits. Of the 26 runs, 19 have come as RBIs.
The Highlanders picked up a 18-6 series finale win at High Point on Sunday and collected an 8-6 win in 11 innings at VMI on Tuesday as Radford played its first midweek game in 20 days.
Totaling nine doubles over the weekend at High Point, resulting in 14 extra-base hits in the series, Radford was limited to only one double in Tuesday's win at VMI.
Despite scoring 35 runs in the last four games, Radford has struggled with runners in scoring position, going 11 for 52 in the scenario.
Radford leadoff batters have reached base safely 39.3 percent of the time this season, including an 8 for 11 performance at VMI.
Currently on a five-game hit streak with a four-hit and three-hit performance, Andrew Szamski continues his torrid start to the season. The redshirt junior is second in the league with a .372 average and third with 35 hits.
Szamski currently leads the league with 14 extra-base hits.
With runners on base, Szamski is 17 for 44 and 9 for 29 when in scoring position.
Five different Higlanders have double-digit RBIs on the season with Spencer Horwitz and Szamski leading the way.
Horwitz matched Szamski with his second four-plus RBI game on the season in the High Point series.
Following Szamski in extra base hits, Horwitz ranks third in the league with eight doubles.
Kyle Butler has four two-hit games in the last six games, leading the team with 10 multi-hit games on the season. Butler is second on the team with a .278 batting clip.
Raising his batting average from .209 to .258 over the last seven games, Matt Roth is 10 for 27 with five RBIs and eight runs scored. He has four doubles during the stretch.
Radford has tallied 61 extra-base hits on the season, ranking 11^th nationally with 10 triples. Szamski is 15^th nationally with three three-baggers.
Radford's offense has put up 21 runs a piece in the second and fourth innings.
Opposing teams are outscoring the Highlanders 19-3 in the opening frame.
On the base paths, Radford is 33 for 45, which rank as the second most steals in the league.
Twelve different Highlanders have swiped a base this season with six swiping three-plus.
Butler is the team leader with a 6 for 8 showing on the bases.
Radford ranks second in the Big South and 46^th nationally with a .976 fielding percentage.
Highlander pitchers have struck out a Big South low 150 batters in 203.1 frames. However, Radford ranks third with only 120 earned runs allowed.
Radford's staff has been tough on left-handed bats in the last three games, holding the southpaws to a 11 of 40 performance at the dish.
With 21.2 innings out of the bullpen, Austin Gerber leads the team with a 2.49 ERA with only seven of his 19 hits allowed coming as extra-base hits.
Among starting pitchers in the league, Austin Ross is ninth with a 3.13 ERA and Ryan Sande follows in 10^th with a 3.33 ERA.
Opposing teams are only hitting .224 off of Ross and .240 off Sande.
Ross leads the team with a 5-2 record, ranking second nationally in wins. He has struck out 26 in 23.0 innings, walking only three batters.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB

Current record: (13-14) | Home: (8-6) | Away: (3-7) | Neutral (2-1)
Big South (1-5)
Streak: L5
Gardner-Webb has been outscored 37-15 during its five-game skid.
Despite the stretch, Gardner-Webb ranks third in the league with a .267 average, while leading with 22 home runs and standing in second with 40 doubles.
Possessing a .346 batting average on the season, Eric Jones is one of three players hitting over .300 as Mickey Dugan's .330 average ranks ninth in the league.
Jones is second in the Big South with 36 hits, driving in 24 runs.
Power hitting Chandler Redmond leads the league with eight home runs and is second with 29 RBIs.
The Runnin' Bulldogs also own the second-best ERA in the Big South with a 4.95 clip.
Saturday starter Bradley Hallman is fourth in the league with a 3.03 ERA, striking out 33 in 38.2 frames.
Out of the bullpen, Jarrett Thompson holds a 2.81 ERA, striking out 22 in 16.0 innings, while yielding only one extra base hit.
Opposing teams have been able to run on the Runnin' Bulldogs, racking up 37 steals in 41 attempts.

ON DECK

Radford will host two midweek games after Gardner-Webb as Appalachian State comes to town on April 3 and ETSU follows on April 4.
Both contests are set for a 6 p.m., first pitch.
The Highlanders were swept by Appalachian State in the two-game series a season ago, while splitting with ETSU.

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