SOFTBALL SPLITS AT PRESBYTERIAN

BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 CLINTON, S.C. – Behind a 12-hit attack Radford cruised to a 11-1 win over Presbyterian in game one, but was held to four hits in game two and fell, 4-1 to the Blue Hose.

Freshman Casey Burns was 4-for-4 and reached base safely in all six of her plate appearances in the twinbill. She recorded a double, two RBI and two runs.

Radford jumped out to an 8-0 lead after three innings and cruised to an 11-1 victory in the opener. Every Highlander recorded a hit. They were led by two-hit performances by freshman Whitney Davis, senior Ryndee Ruch and senior Jessica Agee. Davis, who knocked in three, and Agee each scored two runs, while Ruch homered and added two RBI.

"We came out strong and played a great first game," commented head coach Maggie Johnson. "Our challenge all year has been being consistant and coming out strong every game and that showed with our performance in game two."

Tera Powell, Jill McLean recorded two hits apiece for the Blue Hose. Shelby Petik hit a home run for PC's only run of the game.

A RBI single by senior Morgan Eye and a two-run base knock by Burns gave Radford a 3-0 first-inning lead. Sophomore Hilari Hopkins singled with one out, stole second and after an error by the shortstop, scored on Eye's single to right center. Burns poked one back up the middle to plate two more.

Hopkins scored twice and also stole a pair of bases.

Freshman Emily Naegele added to the lead as she laced a two-run, two-out single to left. Her single knocked in Davis and Hopkins for a 5-0 lead.

Three more two-out runs in the third pushed the advantage to 8-0. With runners on second and third, Davis poked a two-run double to the fence in right center. Ruch roped the next pitch into left to plate Davis with the eighth run.

Radford added three more in the fifth on an error, sac fly by Davis and a solo long ball by Ruch. Petik spoiled the shutout with a two-out solo home run in bottom of the fifth.

Freshman Rachael Walters picked up the win, scattering seven hits, struck out three and walked one.

Cat Tarvin started and took the loss as she allowed five runs, four earned, with a strikeout and walk in two innings of work.

Kelsey Loudermelk held Radford to four hits and the Blue Hose scored two runs in the third and fifth innings to defeat the Highlanders, 4-1 and earn the split. Loudermelk did not allow an earned run, struck out eight and walked two, earning the complete game victory.

Burns was 3-for-3 with a double for the Highlanders. Tarvin hit the go-ahead two-run home run and Jill McLean went 2-for-2 for the Blue Hose.

Radford got on the board in the third with an unearned run. A two-base error allowed Ruch to reach with on out and runners were at the corners after freshman Becky Mantel's infield single. Ruch scored when Mantel was caught in a rundown between first and second.

Tarvin gave PC a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the third with a two-run, two out home run. Her at bat was made possible as a tailor made inning-ending double play was not executed.

PC took advantage of an error in the sixth for a pair of unearned insurance runs. Tarvin's hard grounder to second was misplayed allowing a run to score and then with two outs, Petik poked a RBI single to left for a 4-1 lead.

Senior Jackie Jenkins suffered the defeat. She went the distance, allowing two earned run on eight hits with four strikeouts and a walk.

"Our goal tonight is to refocus and come out tomorrow with high energy and win the series," said Johnson.

The teams will play the rubber game tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.

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