CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Big South Conference announced Tuesday afternoon that Trey Ludy (First Team All-Conference), Raymond Ladd (Second Team All-Conference), Junho Son (Second Team All-Conference), Breckin Nace (Honorable Mentions), and Brady Whitacre (All-Academic Team) have all earned end of season awards.
After earning preseason All-Conference honors, Ludy's 2026 campaign more than lived up to expectations, solidifying his place on the First Team All-Conference squad. It also marks the second consecutive season a Highlander has earned First Team All-Conference recognition. Ludy served as the Highlanders' enforcer out of the bullpen, consistently shutting down opposing offenses in key moments. Across 25 appearances, he posted the team's second best ERA at 3.91 while logging 46 innings pitched.
His dominance was even more apparent during conference play, where he recorded a 2.92 ERA over 24.2 innings, allowing just eight earned runs while striking out 30 batters. During conference play, Ludy also surpassed 100 career strikeouts, finishing the 2026 season with 51 total punch outs. Ludy's production has continued to improve each year in the Highlanders' program. In 2026, he set career highs in appearances, innings pitched, and strikeouts while recording a career low in earned runs allowed. As his development continues, Ludy has firmly established himself as one of the Highlanders' most reliable arms out of the bullpen.
The Big South's top MLB Draft prospect for the Class of 2026 lived up to the hype this season. Returning from injury, Ladd delivered an explosive campaign for the Highlanders as their Friday night starter. In Ladd's 14 appearances, the Highlanders won 10 games with the redshirt sophomore leading the way. One of his most notable outings came against VMI, when he tossed six strong innings to earn Big South Starting Pitcher of the Week honors. Ladd finished the season with a team best 3.72 ERA while totaling 58 innings pitched, 55 strikeouts, and holding opposing hitters to a .249 batting average. During the season, he also surpassed 100 career strikeouts as a Highlander. The Danville native added three wins this season without recording a loss. As the 6-foot-6 right hander continues to develop, Ladd is becoming an increasingly dominant force on the Highlanders' pitching staff.
Son first appeared in the final game of the Highlanders' opening series against Iona and quickly cemented himself as the team's starting third baseman, going on to start the remaining 46 games of the season at the position. The left-handed hitter also took over as the Highlanders' leadoff man, finishing the season with the team's second best on base percentage at .429 while leading the team with a .341 batting average. Son also paced the Highlanders in hits with 62 and struck out just 16 times all season.
Son's impact extended beyond the plate and into the field, where he proved to be a reliable presence at third base. He totaled 21 putouts and 88 assists for 109 total outs while committing just seven errors, finishing with a .940 fielding percentage. Son became a vital piece of the Highlanders' success during the 2026 season, with the newcomer fitting seamlessly into the program's gritty style of play.
After earning preseason All-Conference honors, Nace followed up with another strong campaign, earning a spot on the Honorable Mention All-Conference team. The recognition marks Nace's third postseason honor in as many years after being named to the All-Freshman Team in 2024 and earning Second Team All-Conference honors in 2025. The Jefferson Forest native appeared in all 49 games for the Highlanders, including nine appearances on the mound, 34 starts at first base, and four appearances in the outfield. Offensively, Nace finished third on the team in hits with 53, ranked second in home runs with five, and led the team in both RBIs and walks during the season.
Defensively, Nace recorded 304 putouts across three different positions while adding 10 assists and committing only three errors all year, finishing with an impressive .991 fielding percentage. Nace continues to be a key piece of the Highlanders' roster as the team's starting first baseman, while also providing versatility with his ability to contribute in the outfield and on the mound.
Whitacre has been named to the 2026 All-Academic team following another strong season both on the field and in the classroom. Behind the plate, Whitacre continued to be a steady presence for the Highlanders, recording 114 putouts during the 2026 season. He also delivered his best offensive campaign to date, totaling 17 hits, 13 runs scored, and four stolen bases while playing a vital role in the Highlanders' success throughout the year. Whitacre graduated from Radford in the spring of 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Sciences, finishing his undergraduate studies with a 3.67 GPA. He returned for a graduate season with the Highlanders while pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and currently holds a 3.96 GPA in the program, with every grade in the program being an A.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders head to the 2026 Big South Baseball Championships, with the action running from Wednesday, May 20 through Saturday, May 23 at Home Trust Park in Asheville, N.C. As the five seed, the Highlanders will take on the fourth seed Charleston Southern Buccaneers at 11:00 am Wednesday morning.
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