VIDEO RECAP: SOFTBALL TAKES TWINBILL FROM CHARLESTON SOUTHERN

Saturday's Game Featured on ESPN3

BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 RADFORD, Va. – Radford recorded 20 runs on 20 hits as it swept Charleston Southern by the scores of 12-4 and 8-1 in Big South softball action from RU Softball Field on Friday afternoon.

Junior Jessie Hutchens was 4-for-6 with two doubles, a home run, six RBI and five runs scored in the twinbill, while senior Morgan Eye hit two home runs, including her first collegiate grand slam, and finished the day 3-for-5 with six RBI and three runs scored as the Highlanders (10-18, 3-1 Big South) snapped their four game slide.

In game one, Hutchens went 3-for-3 with two doubles, four RBI and three runs scored as Radford took game one, 12-4 in five innings. Sophomore Hilari Hopkins and freshman Nia Chiles added two hits apiece. Hopkins scored twice.

The Highlanders outhit the Buccaneers (6-28, 0-8), 11-10, including six extra base hits. Marci Christian, Jana Matthews and Linzy Rother all went 2-for-3 for CSU. Christian homered and Hannah Wagner knocked in two runs. It was the second straight 11-hit contest for RU and six double-figure output of the season.

Christian led the game off with a home run to centerfield, giving the Buccaneers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

The Highlanders took advantage of two hit batters and a walk to push three runs across in the first for a 3-1 advantage. With one out, Hutchens lofted a RBI double to left, evening the contest at 1-1. Another hit batter and a fielder's choice loaded the bases. Senior Ryndee Ruch drew a walk to break the tie and freshman Casey Burns added another run with a sac fly to left.

A four-run second extended Radford's lead to 7-1. A two-run double by Hutchens and a two-run home run Eye provided the fireworks in the inning.

Four singles plated a run for the Buccaneers in the third when Hayes Holdsworth connected on a RBI single down the leftfield line. However, the runner rounded third too far and the Highlanders were able to get the second out on the play and eventually get out of the bases loaded jam.

Radford responded with five runs in the third. Hutchens, freshman Becky Mantel, Chiles, Ruch and Burns knocked in runs with base hits, including Chiles' first collegiate triple. Mantel scored three runs in the contest and with a single in game two, she has reached base safely in 14 of her last 15 games.

The Buccaneers closed out the scoring on a two-run single by Rogers in the fifth.

Senior Jackie Jenkins picked up the win, allowing two runs on seven hits with a walk and strikeout in four innings of work.

Jennifer Giles took the loss as she allowed five runs on two hits in 2.1 innings. She was plague by a walk and three hit batters.

For the second straight game, CSU hit a first inning home run, but Radford responded with eight unanswered run to grab the 8-1 win. Eye was 2-for-3 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored. Seven other Highlanders recorded hits.

After falling behind 1-0 on the first inning home run by CSU's Stephanie Sbardella, Hutchens quickly erased the deficit with a two-run long ball in the first. Her line shot to rightcenter was her team-leading sixth of the season.

That was all freshman Rachael Walters would need as she went the distance and improved to 6-6. Walters struck out four, walked one and allowed just three singles, while retiring the final 13 batters of the contest.

The Highlanders opened it up with a five-run second, the final four on Eye's grand slam and second home run of the day. The blast to leftcenter expanded Radford's lead to 7-1. They added on more run on Burns' RBI single in the third.

Sbardella recorded two of CSU's four hits with Holdsworth and Natalie Yonan also singling. Holdsworth suffered the defeat, allowing seven runs, three earned, on five hits in two innings. Giles closed the door allowing an unearned run and four hits, with four strikeouts over the final four frames.

The teams will close out the series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The contest will be featured on ESPN3.

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