RADFORD BASEBALL OPENS 2020 SEASON AT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL

RADFORD, Va. – A new era of Radford baseball will be ushered in on Friday afternoon when the Highlanders begin their 36th season of competition at North Carolina Central.

Head coach Karl Kuhn begins his first season at the helm with an 11-game road trip to kickstart the 2020 season, beginning with Friday's 4 p.m. first pitch against the Eagles. Saturday's second game of the series is slated for 3 p.m., while the rubber match on Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m.

PROBABLE STARTERS
FRIDAY: RHP Brandon Donovan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. TBA (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
SATURDAY: RHP Ryan Sande (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. TBA (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
SUNDAY: RHP Ryan Bywaters (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. TBA (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Redshirt senior Brandon Donovan will get the opening day nod, marking the first career opening day start for the Pittsburgh native. The Highlanders have a veteran rotation, with two redshirt seniors and a junior comprising the opening weekend rotation, and two others who started seven or more games last year.

The Highlanders were picked to finish third in this season's Big South Preseason Poll. Radford received one first-place vote and finished just three points behind High Point, who was picked second. Radford is coming off a season in which it went 30-27 and reached the semifinals of the Big South Tournament, marking the third straight season that the Highlanders reached the semifinals or further in the conference tournament.

In addition, senior infielder J.D. Mundy was voted as the conference's preseason player of the year, garnering six first-place votes.

Redshirt sophomore pitcher Bruce Hudson also added preseason honors, as he was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List after compiling a 4-1 record with a 2.89 ERA in 18 appearances last season.

The Highlanders have a veteran lineup in the fold for 2020, with juniors and seniors expected to account for nearly all nine starting positions. Redshirt senior Colby Higgerson and sophomore David Bryant are back to man the middle infield spots, while the corner infield spots will be manned by a combination of junior Will Harless at third and seniors Jimmy Goldsmith and Mundy at first.

Senior Straton Podaras will be the Highlanders' primary backstop, while juniors Sean Cheely, Anthony Galati and Garrett Matheny, senior Carlin Christian and redshirt senior Adam Whitacre will combine to see the bulk of the time in the three outfield spots.

North Carolina Central was picked to finish fifth in the MEAC this season and placed two on the preseason all-conference teams, in outfielder Carter Williams and pitcher Ryan Miller. The Eagles are led by ninth-year head coach Jim Koerner.

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For more information on the Radford baseball team visit RadfordAthletics.com, follow @RadfordBaseball on Twitter, 'radfordbaseball' Instagram or Radford Baseball on Facebook.

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