MTSU Box
CMU Box

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Hope Creasy launched a pair of three-run home runs as Radford split at the USF Under Armour Showcase, Saturday afternoon from the Eddie C. Moore Sport Complex.

The Highlanders (6-8) defeated Middle Tennessee State (5-9), 5-2, but fell in their second contest, 5-3 to Central Michigan (5-6).

Creasy's first three-run round tripper of the day, a fourth inning blast, broke open a 1-1 ball game and lifted Radford to a 5-2 victory over Middle Tennessee State.

The teams would trade runs in the first inning with junior Shannon Keefe putting the Highlanders on the board with a RBI single.

Radford added another run in the fifth on a run-scoring single by Michelle Beall.

MTSU cut the lead to 5-2 on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, but that would it for the Blue Raiders as Chelsea Kelley retired the final batter of the sixth and after allowing a infield single she set down the final three batters of the contest to record the save.

Creasy finished 2-for-3 with three RBI. Along with Creasy, Keefe, Taylor Cunningham and Lauren Williams all recorded a pair of hits with Beall and Cunningham registering doubles.

The Highlanders notched a season-high 12 hits in the first contest.

Freshman Heather Paquette picked up the win. She surrendered two runs, one earned, on six hits with two strikeouts and zero walks.

In game two, Central Michigan scored five runs in first inning and held on for a 5-3 victory over Radford. Creasy hit her second three-run home run of the day, but it would not be enough to rally the Highlanders.

The Chippewas took advantage of four walks, two hit by pitches and an illegal pitch to muster those five runs. Two runs scored on fielder's choice groundouts with two more on a bases loaded hit batter and an illegal pitch. The final run came on their only hit of the inning.

Creasy cut the lead to 5-3 with a three-run long ball in the fourth.

That would all for the Highlanders as they fell to the Chippewas for the second time this season.

Senior Sarah Himan recorded two of the Highlanders' seven hits.

Radford closes its spring break trip tomorrow at 9 am against Indiana.