SOFTBALL TOPS COASTAL ON THE ROAD, 4-2 AND TAKES SERIES

BOX SCORE MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Radford scored four runs in the second inning and held off a late Coastal Carolina rally to win, 4-2, and claim the Big South series on Sunday afternoon from Carolina Forest High School. The Highlanders (14-20, 7-3 Big South) move into second place with the victory as they now have won 31 of their last 32 conferenc series.

Rachael Walters was once again strong in earning the complete game victory. She allowed two runs and scattered nine hits and got out of several jams, especially over the final four innings, to improve to 5-0 in the league and 10-6 overall. Walters struck out four and walked four as she concluded a 3-0 week, all on the road.

Coastal Carolina stranded 10 runners, including seven, four in scoring position, over the final four innings.

Freshman Casey Burns, who knocked in the first run of the game, went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.

Radford enjoyed the four-spot on three RBI singles by Burns, senior Ryndee Ruch and sophomore Hilari Hopkins and the fourth on a dropped throw on potential inning ending double play.

The Chanticleers got on the board in the third on a two-out RBI single up the middle by Cacia Pierre. The frame ended on the same play when freshman Becky Mantel threw to third and caught the runner rounding second to far for the final out of the frame.

Mantel reached base three times all via the hit by pitch and is one shy of tying Kristen Shifflett's single-season mark of 13.

Walters got into a tight jam in the fifth. On sac bunt, Jazmin Daigle tried to score all the way from first as Radford was a little careless with the ball, but junior Jessie Hutchens gunned her down for the first out. After the Chanticleers loaded the bases, she induced two shallow fly balls to center, ending the threat.

Sara Rasley cut Radford's lead in half, 4-2, with a one-out solo home run to left in the sixth. Two more runners reached after the long ball, but once again Walters recorded a pair of fly ball outs keeping the damage at one run.

The Chanticleers made one last effort putting the tying run on base with one out. However, Walters jammed the pinch hitter with a soft liner just behind the pitching circle. Hopkins made the running catch and tossed it over to second for a double play ending the contest.

Ashley Bagwell took the loss for the Chanticleers as she allowed three earned runs on six hits with six punchouts. She did walk one and hit four. Pierre, Daigle and Bri Chiusano each recorded two hits for Coastal.

Radford returns home for a key doubleheader on Wednesday against Longwood. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.

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