MORROW, DEFENSE KEY SPLIT IN LEAGUE OPENER AT CAMPBELL

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BUIES CREEK, N.C. – A gutsy pitching performance by freshman Abby Morrow helped Radford salvage a split in its Big South opener at Campbell on Friday evening from Amanda Littlejohn Stadium. After dropping the opener, 4-2, the Highlanders (7-15, 1-1 Big South) bounced back with a 4-3 comeback victory over the Fighting Camels (18-14, 4-1) in the night cap.

Morrow pitched a total of 14 innings, including a complete-game victory in game two. That performance was preceded by a two-hit, seven-strikeout relief effort in the opener. In all, she scattered seven hits, allowed three runs and struck out 10.

Game 2 – Radford 4, Campbell 3

Radford scored two runs in the top of the fifth and turned a game-ending 4-6-3 double play to cap off a come-from-behind 4-3 win in game two.

Morrow, behind an outstanding defensive showing, held a high powered Campbell offense to five hits in the victory. She struck out three and induced 12 groundouts. All 12 were snagged without an error, led by third baseman Whitney Davis' six assists.

Davis started the comeback with a solo blast deep over the leftfield fence in the fourth, cutting RU's deficit to 3-2.

Three infield singles, along with a walk pushed across the tying run to start the fifth. With the bases full, senior Jessie Hutchens beat out a chopper to second that evened the game. During the next at bat, sophomore Becky Mantel scooted home with the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

Mantel also joined in on RU's superb defense with an inning-ending highlight reel diving snag on a shallow blooper, a half inning earlier in the fourth.

Radford finished with seven hits, two by sophomore Nia Chiles. Brittany Bruce was 3-for-3 with two doubles and a run for the Camels.

Morgan Eisenga suffered the loss in relief. She did not record an out in the fifth, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks.

The Highlanders pushed across the first run of the game on a perfectly executed squeeze play, which resulted in a RBI bunt single for freshman Julie Gardner.

The Camels, who loaded the bases with no outs, struck for their three run in the third on a pair of sacrifice flies and a wild pitch.

Game 1 – Campbell 4, Radford 2

Despite a great seven relief effort from Morrow, Radford could not overcome Campbell's four-run first and dropped the opener, 4-2.

Following the first four Camels scoring, Morrow allowed just two hits and struck out seven in a full seven innings of work. Prior to taking the circle in game two she struck out 35 batters in her last 24.2 innings.

Campbell's first four batters of the game reached base and scored. After a walk and infield single, Courtney Klingler hit a three-run home run, which was followed by a solo long ball by the cleanup hitter Milly Martinet to grab a quick 4-0 lead.

Morrow entered after the Martinet home run and kept the Camel bats at bay except for a pair of singles.

The Highlanders took advantage of a hit by pitch and a couple of Campbell miscues to cut their deficit in half. With one out, Mantel was plunked for the 12^th time this season and Chiles reached on an error. On a groundout to short, Chiles got in a run down between second and third. Mantel scored on the play and was followed by Chiles, who scooted home when the throw went awry.

Hutchens, sophomore Casey Burns and freshman Kayla Bishton singled for the Highlanders.

Katie Baker earned the complete game victory for the Camels. She struck out 11 and surrendered zero earned runs on three hits.

The teams close out the series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.

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