MANTEL POWERS SOFTBALL PAST WINTHROP, 6-4

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ROCK HILL, S.C. – Becky Mantel recorded three hits including the game-winning two-run home run in the fifth powering Radford to a 6-4 road win over Winthrop in Big South softball action on Saturday evening from Terry Field. The contest was broadcasted on ESPN3.

With the game tied 3-3, Mantel connected on a 0-2 pitch and crushed a two-run long ball to centerfield putting the Highlanders (8-16, 2-2 Big South) up for good, 5-3. RU would add another run in the frame to cap of the game-winning inning.

She finished 3-for-4 with a double, home run, three runs and two RBI. With the victory, Radford improved to 7-1 on the ESPN family of networks, including 4-0 against Winthrop (16-17, 4-6).

Freshman Abby Morrow, after a tough first inning (3 runs, 3 hits), picked up the win and improved to 3-4. Following the first, she went on to retire 14 straight from the first through the fifth. The rookie twirler allowed two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and zero walks in 5.1 innings.

Sophomore Rachael Walters earned her first career save, recording the final five outs with a walk and two strikeouts.

Radford grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a wild pitch and squeeze by freshman Julie Gardner. However, the Eagles rallied with three (2 earned) in the bottom half of the frame to erase their early deficit.

The Highlanders evened the score on a RBI groundout by senior Jessie Hutchens in the third, scoring Mantel who singled to lead off the inning.

The Eagles threatened in the sixth, scoring one run and putting runners on first and second but Walters came in recorded a strikeout and a pop up to end the rally.

Hutchens extended her hitting streak to six games with a single in the seventh. Sophomore Casey Burns, freshman Summer Robinson and junior Mackenzie Blackwell also recorded hits for the Highlanders.

The teams return to the field tomorrow, March 30 for a doubleheader starting a 12:00 p.m.

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