Softball 3/1/2013 5:01:00 PM

HIGHLANDERS DROP TWO ON DAY ONE OF BULLDOG INVITATIONAL

BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 ATHENS, Ga. -- Radford dropped a pair of contests on day one of the Bulldog Invitational. The Highlanders (1-5) suffered an eight-inning defeat to Indiana State, 9-8, in their opener and then fell to the host and 23^rd-ranked Bulldogs, 11-0, on Friday from Jack Turner Stadium.

Radford will play host Georgia approximately 30 minutes after the Bulldogs and North Dakota State conclude. Check @RUGameday for more information.

Freshman Casey Burns went 4-for-5 with a double and RBI and freshman Whitney Davis doubled, homered and knocked in three runs for the Highlanders.

The Sycamores took advantage of several walks and errors to jump out to 5-0 and 6-1 leads before Radford finally found its bats in the bottom of the fifth. A two-out two-run double by freshman Emily Naegele, cut the deficit in half (6-3). The runs were unearned thanks to a passed ball on a strikeout during the previous at bat that extended the frame.

In a five-run sixth, three straight hits, the third a three-run long ball by Davis, the first of her career, evened the contest at six-apiece. Two more singles put runners on first and second with one out and after a strikeout, senior Ryndee Ruch put the Highlanders in the lead for the first time, 8-6, with a two-run double.

After two quick outs to start the seventh, the Sycamores drew a pair of four-pitch walks to keep the inning alive. Consecutive singles by Abbie Malchow and Morgan Allee tied the game at eight-all, before freshman Becky Mantel gunned out the would be go-ahead run to give RU a chance to win it in the seventh.

The Highlanders stranded a leadoff double in the seventh and watched the Sycamores regain the lead on a Shelby Wilson RBI single.

Once again, Radford put the game-tying and game-winning runs in scoring position with no outs but Ashli Scott struck out the side around a one-out walk to end the threat and earn the win in relief.

Radford recorded seven extra base hits, six of which were doubles. Ruch doubled, knocked in two and walked twice. Davis, Mantel and senior Morgan Eye each registered a double and two total hits. Senior Jackie Jenkins went the distance, allowing six earned runs on eight hits. She matched a career high with four strikeouts, but also walked 11.

No. 23 Georgia 11, Radford 0 (5)

The host Bulldogs scored three in the first and broke the game open with eight more in the third and went on to defeat the Highlanders, 11-0 in five innings.

Radford opened the contest with a pair of singles by Mantel and Ruch, but stranded both runners. Following the early threat, the Highlanders did not reach base.

After the three-run first, the Bulldogs, highlighted by Paige Wilson's grand slam, pushed across eight runs in the third and took command of the game. Wilson finished with two hits and five RBI.

Tess Sito and Morgan Montemayor combined on the shutout for the Bulldogs. Sito struck out six in three innings, while Montemayor tallied three.

Freshman Rachael Walters surrendered two earned runs on eight hits in four innings of work.

Radford will take on North Dakota State at 10:00 a.m. and Indiana State at 5:30 p.m. on day two of the event.

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