MID-WEEK TREK TO MARSHALL UP NEXT FOR SOFTBALL

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Radford steps out of Big South play for a mid-week doubleheader at Marshall on Wednesday, April 2. First pitch of game one between the Highlanders (9-17) and Thundering Herd (10-23) is set for 2:00 p.m. at Dot Hicks Field.

Last Time Out – Radford took two of three in a Big South road series at Winthrop… The Highlanders won the opener and finale against the Eagles by the scores of 6-4 and 7-6 and dropped game two, 8-7… Sophomore Casey Burns hit a 3-run home run in each game of the Sunday doubleheader… In game one, sophomore Becky Mantel went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two RBI and three runs… Her two-run home run broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth… In the finale, Radford scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 7^th and Rachael Walters shut down Winthrop in the bottom half for the series finale win… Along with Burns, sophomore Whitney Davis hit a two-run HR in the second… The Highlanders hit three home runs in game two, but could not hold on to 3-0 and 7-5 leads.

Highlander Bites – The series finale win was the 600^th in program history on Sunday… Senior Jessie Hutchens extended her career-best eight-game hitting streak with a base hit in each game… She also launched her team-best 7^th home run in game two, which put her in a three-way tie for eighth on the career charts with 22… Her seven long balls rank fifth in the Big South, while her .636 slugging and .447 on base percentages rank seventh and ninth, respectively… Freshman Ashley Harris recorded her first collegiate hit and RBI with a two-out single in the series finale… Mantel's 3-for-4 effort was a career-high in hits… She also matched her game-high with three runs… With the game one victory, Radford improved to 7-1 on ESPN family of networks, 7-0 during the regular season… Freshman Julie Gardner ranks second in walks (20) and fifth in OBP (.452).

The Herd – Marshall was swept in a three-game non-conference road series at Mississippi State last weekend and have dropped four of its last five contests… The Herd are 3-6 in Conference USA play, taking 2-of-3 in their last series at East Carolina… Kaelynn Greene is batting a team-best .398 with 45 hits, 19 runs scored and 15 stolen bases… Shaelynn Braxton (.327) has posted a team-high 10 home runs, 27 RBI and 22 runs… In the circle, Lindsey Fadnek is 3-6 with a 4.73 ERA in 64.2 innings… Jordan Dixon (7-15) has tossed a staff-high 120.1 innings (30 app/23 gs) with 119 strikeouts and eight complete games.

The Series – Marshall leads the all-time series 8-1 after defeating Radford, 5-1 in eight innings last season at RU Softball Field… The last time in Huntington, W. Va., the Herd swept a doubleheader by the scores 8-2 and 6-5 (8) on April 8, 2009.

Up Next – Radford hosts Presbyterian in its first home games of the season on April 5 and 6. Saturday's contests will debut the upgraded RU Softball Field with game one of the twinbill scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

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