RADFORD ROUNDUP: FEBRUARY 17-20

Monday, February 17

Blacksburg, Va.

4:00 p.m.

Radford University

Virginia Tech

2/17/2020 3:07:00 PM | Baseball, Radford Athletics, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Tennis, Women's Lacrosse, General

RADFORD, Va. – Welcome to the Radford Roundup, where fans can find out all the information they need on upcoming Radford Athletics events taking place between Monday, February 17th and Thursday, February 20th.

Click on the links below to be taken to the respective sport.
BASEBALL | SOFTBALL | LACROSSE | WOMEN'S TENNIS

BASEBALL

at Liberty - Wednesday, Feb. 19 | 4 p.m.
Where: Lynchburg, Va. (Liberty Baseball Stadium)
Records: Radford (3-0) | Liberty (0-3)
Series: Liberty leads, 66-39
Probable Starting Pitchers: Hunter Williams (Radford), LHP (0-0, 0.00) vs. Mason Hand (Liberty), RHP (0-0, 0.00)
Links: W atch Live | Live Stats

**UPDATE: Tuesday's contest at Liberty has been postponed and will now be played on Wednesday at 4 p.m.**
Radford plays its first midweek contest of the season on Tuesday when it travels to former Big South foe Liberty for a 4 p.m. tilt.
The Highlanders swept N.C. Central in their opening weekend series, marking the first opening-weekend sweep for Radford since 1993.
Catcher Straton Podaras hit .538 with a conference-leading five doubles in the sweep at N.C. Central. Podaras also threw out all four attempted base-stealers over the course of the series, tied his career high with four hits in the season opener and set a new career high with three doubles in the same game.
Brandon Donovan set new career-highs with 6.2 innings pitched and 11 strikeouts in Radford's Opening Day win. It was also Donovan's first Opening Day start.
Shortstop Colby Higgerson hit a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning of Saturday's 3-2 win over the Eagles.
Third baseman Will Harless homered in both the series opener and the series finale. Harless hit the warehouse beyond the fence in right center in the opening game. The Abingdon, Virginia, native has a Big South-leading seven RBIs through the opening weekend.
As a team, Radford has pitched to the tune of a 2.33 ERA. Donovan, Brandon Feathers and Austin Gerber all recorded wins during the weekend, while Bruce Hudson earned the save in each of the last two games.
Liberty has started the season 0-3 after being swept by Clemson to open the year. The Flames were picked to win the Atlantic Sun and are led by all-conference selections Will Wagner and Gray Betts.

SOFTBALL

vs. Norfolk State (DH) - Thursday, Feb. 20 | 1/3 p.m.
Where: Norfolk, Va.
Records: Radford (3-1) | Norfolk State (2-1)
Series: Radford leads, 14-1
Links: Watch Live | Live Stats

Coming off a 3-1 start at the Phoenix Invitational last weekend, the Highlanders look towards a doubleheader with Norfolk State beginning at 4 p.m.
Radford had quality contributions from a pair of freshmen in Riley Oakes and Madison Canady on Saturday in a doubleheader victory. Oakes struck out seven batters, while Canady tallied five RBIs in the 10-0 victory over Morgan State.
Canady leads the teams with five RBIs, while Oakes is tied for the team lead with seven hits.
Talia Douglas also has seven hits and is batting .636 with a double and a triple.
Jessie Marvin picked up nine strikeouts in the Sunday victory over Siena, marking a career-high that was previously seven in 2017 and 2018. She totaled 14 through 13.0 innings.
Norfolk State didn't play last weekend but went 2-1 in its opening weekend. The Spartans only loss came to Presbyterian, while the two wins were against Robert Morris and South Carolina State.
The Spartans have three players in Jazzmaine Hammond, Jade Dixon and Denisha Megginson all hitting over .400 as Hammond's .429 leads the team.

LACROSSE

vs. No. 22 Virginia Tech - Wednesday, Feb. 19 | 4 p.m.
Where: Blacksburg, Va.
Records: Radford (1-1) | No. 22 Virginia Tech (2-1)
Series: Virginia Tech leads 3-0
Links: Watch Live | Live Stats

The Highlanders make a short trip to face fellow New River Valley foes Virginia Tech after a short break of three days from competition.
In two games this season Radford has forced 49 turnovers by their opponents.
Grace Gleason and Brittany Rinaldi lead the team in ground balls this season so far with Gleason gathering seven and Rinaldi six.
Amanda Paino has also been an offensive force with seven shots on goal which is tied for second-best on the team. Her three goals and two assists add up to five points she's had a hand in this season which is also second-best on the team.
Maddie Bowman has been a wall in the net so far with many great saves this season, totaling 19 in all 120 minutes played this year.

WOMEN'S TENNIS

vs. Virginia Tech - Monday, Feb. 17 | 4 p.m.
Where: Blacksburg, Va.
Records: Radford (1-0) | Virginia Tech (6-1)
Series: Virginia Teach leads 6-0
Links: Live Stats

The Highlanders make a quick trip to Blacksburg for a match-up with Virginia Tech for their second match of the season after getting rained out last week.
Drousile Dzeubou and Jeanine Acierto will look to lead the team as newly-named team captains.
In their last match a week ago against UVA-Wise the team swept the Cavs 7-0 and many Highlanders didn't give up a single set in singles and doubles play.

Stay tuned for the next Radford Roundup which will feature events from Friday, February 21st through Monday, February 24th.

FOLLOW RADFORD ATHLETICS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Radford Athletics follow @RU_Athletics on Twitter, @RadfordAthletics on Instagram and Radford Athletics on Facebook.