SOFTBALL EDGED BY TOP-SEEDED CHANTICLEERS IN BIG SOUTH ELIMINATION GAME, 3-2

BOX SCORE ROCK HILL, S.C. – Radford's seventh inning rally fell short as it was edged, 3-2, by top-seeded Coastal Carolina in the first elimination game at the 2013 Big South Tournament presented by Musco Sports Lighting.

A two-run fifth put the Chanticleers (35-21) on top for good, 3-2. Following two hits and a sac bunt, Cacia Pierre evened the contest with a sac fly to left. Jazmin Daigle's roller through the left side scored pinch runner Nichole Saggiomo from second with the go-ahead run on a bang-bang play at the plate.

In the seventh, two-out singles by senior Ryndee Ruch and freshman Becky Mantel put the tying run on second, but a ground out to first ended the rally and the season for the Highlanders (20-36).

“We're proud of the way our ladies fought to the last pitch,” said head Coach Maggie Johnson. “I'm proud of the team as a whole especially our seniors, who gave everything to the program over the last four years. We wish them well as they move on from Radford Softball.”

Mantel and classmate Megan Honaker each recorded a pair of hits. Mantel (2-for-2, 2 HBP) homered and knocked in two. Freshman Rachael Walters suffered the one-run defeat as she surrendered two earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and two walks. It was her fifth one-run defeat of the season.

Mantel, who was hit twice, finished the season with a school-record 20, which is also tied for third in a RU career. Along with her 25 walks, the rookie centerfielder posted the fifth-best single-season on base percentage (.467).

Pierre, Brooke Donovan and Bri Chiusano each registered two hits for the Chanticleers. Ashley Bagwell earned the complete game victory as she scattered six hits, struck out six and walked two.

Coastal Carolina took advantage of an early scoring opportunity to grab a 1-0 lead in the second inning. After senior Morgan Eye gunned down a Coastal runner at the plate for the second out, Jessie Winans hit a soft single just over the infield for an unearned run and the early advantage.

It was the rightfielder's team-best eighth outfield assist, giving the trio of Ruch (LF/5), Mantel (CF/7) and Eye (RF/8) 20 for the season.

Radford answered in the third as Mantel launched a two-run home run to put her squad up 2-1. Sophomore Hilari Hopkins led off with a walk and with one out Mantel blasted a shot, her seventh of the season, over the leftfield fence.

Ruch and Eye closed out their careers with a hit apiece.

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