LATE HOME RUNS NOT ENOUGH; SOFTBALL'S RALLY AT ELON FALLS SHORT

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ELON, N.C. – Jessie Hutchens and Becky Mantel hit home runs in the top of the seventh, but Radford's rally came up a run short as it fell to host Elon, 3-2, on Sunday evening at Hunt Softball Park.

Mantel and Whitney Davis recorded two hits apiece for the Highlanders (4-10), who finished the game with six. It was Hutchen's and Mantel's third and second round trippers of the season, respectively.

Grace Eng was 2-for-3 with a double, home run and two RBI for the Phoenix (15-5-1). Her long ball in the fifth proved to be the difference as it extended Elon's lead to 3-0.

Chelsea White earned the win for the Phoenix. She went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and a walk. Caitlin O'Shea picked up the save retiring the final two Highlanders after Hutchens and Mantel made things interesting.

The Phoenix opened a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third on a RBI double by Eng and a sacrifice fly.

Radford did have opportunities to get on the board throughout the game leaving nine runners on base and having the leadoff batter reach in five of the seven innings.

In the first and third innings, the Highlanders had runners on first and second and the bases loaded, respectfully, with no outs. However, in each occasion, the next three batters recorded outs and Radford's threats were stymied.

Rachael Walters (4-3) suffered the defeat, allowing three runs on five hits over five innings of work. She struck out four and walked three. Abby Morrow did not allow a run in one inning of relief.

Radford head to North Carolina State on Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.

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