Softball 4/16/2014 3:35:00 PM

SOFTBALL STARTS 8-GAME HOMESTAND ON THURSDAY HOSTING MOUNTAINEERS

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Radford returns home to start an eight-game homestand at RU Softball Stadium on Thursday, April 17 hosting Appalachian State in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 4:00 p.m. Despite having their eight-game winning streak snapped, the Highlanders (17-20) are still coming off a Big South series win at Charleston Southern last weekend, while the Mountaineers (17-23) have won four of their last five after taking two-of-three in a Southern Conference series at Elon.

Both contests will be streamed live on the Big South Sports Network.

Last Time Out – Radford won its fourth straight Big South series taking two-of-three at Charleston Southern last weekend… The Highlanders won the first two contests, 11-2 (5) and 5-4 before dropping the finale in five innings, 8-0… Senior Jessie Hutchens went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored in the opener as Radford broke open the contest with an eight-run third… The Highlanders rallied from two deficits and took the lead for good with a two-run fifth… Rachael Walters earned the three-inning save allowing just two hits and striking out one... In the finale, RU was held to a pair of hits and CSU scored eight runs, including six in the fifth, over the final three innings.

Highlander Bites – RU surged into third place and is one game out of first place in the Big South thanks to its eight-game winning streak… Season-best winning streak was snapped in series finale at Charleston Southern… Averaged 9.6 runs and nine hits, as well launching 18 home runs during streak… Pitchers posted a 1.04 ERA, four shutouts and held opponents to a .161 average… Jessie Hutchens was name Big South Player of the Week (.556, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 9 R)… Hutchens now ranks nationally in home runs per game (10th), home runs (12th) and slugging (t-21st)… Recorded five straight run-rule victories (all double figure run totals) and four shutouts during winning streak; First shutouts and double figure scoring games of the season… Rachael Walters is 3-1 with a 0.53 ERA, 22 strikeouts and just four walks in her last seven appearances (6 starts); In 26.1 innings of work, she has held her opponents to a .140 average (13 hits)… Hutchens has reached base safely in 22 straight games and 35 of 37 this season… RU hit 18 home runs in first seven games of winning streak… Hutchens ranks sixth on the all-time home run list with 28… Hutchens is tops in hits (40), average (.381), HR (13), RBI (37), slugging (.800) & OBP (.489)… In game one at CSU, Whitney Davis had her career-best nine-game hitting streak snapped; She recorded seven multi-hit games and was 17-29 (.586) with 10 R and 17 RBI… Nia Chiles had her eight-game hitting streak snapped in game two at CSU, but still has recorded a hit in nine of her last 10 games (11-31, 11 runs)… After earning the career record, Becky Mantel was hit four more times last weekend and now owns the single season (24) and career (44) hit by pitch marks… As a program, RU has now been hit a single-season record 46 times

Hutchens Surges to Player of the Week Honor – Coming off monstrous week at the plate, Jessie Hutchens was named Big South Player of the Week... Batted .556 (10-18) with five home runs, including two grand slams, 17 RBI and nine runs... Posted a 1.444 slugging pct. and .617 OBP... Recorded a streak of reaching base safely in 10 straight plate appearances (8-8, 4 HR, 14 RBI)... Set or tied single-game school records with 11 total bases (G3 Liberty), 2 home runs (G3 Liberty), 6 RBI (G2 Liberty).

Big South Rankings - Jessie Hutchens: slugging (2^nd / .800), home runs (3^rd / 13), RBI (3^rd / 38), total bases (3^rd / 84), average (5^th / .381), runs (5^th / 30), OBP (4^th / .489) ... Whitney Davis: slugging (5^th / .639), home runs (t-7^th / 7)… Julie Gardner: walks (t-4^th / 20)... Becky Mantel: home runs (6^th/ 8), runs (t-6^th / 29), OBP (9^th / .416)… Rachael Walters: saves (1^st / 3), appearances (7^th / 27), strikeouts (8^th / 91) … Abby Morrow: saves (2^nd / 2), appearances (6^th / 28), strikeouts (7^th / 95)... Team (played fewest games): home runs (2^nd / 42), slugging (4^th / .419); Pitching * (fewest IP by 21.1) – strikeouts per 7IP (2^nd / 6.37), fewest walks per 7 IP (4^th / 2.00), strikeouts (5^th / 210).

The Mountaineers – Appalachian State is coming off a Southern series win at Elon last weekend and has won four of its last five contests… The Mountaineers scored 37 runs over the last five games… Dani Heichen went 13-20 at the plate in five games last week and is batting .333 with 36 hits and 16 stolen bases… Sarah Warnock is tops on the squad, batting .364 with 39 hits, seven doubles, three home runs, 17 RBI and 19 runs scored… Cara Parker (.317) provides the power with eight doubles, two triples, seven home runs 23 RBI and 23 runs, all team-highs… Shivaun Landeros paces the pitching staff with 9-10 record, 3.20 ERA, two saves and 87 strikeouts in 122.2 innings of work… Sydney Laws (3.98 ERA) and Alissa Schoelkopf (4.11 ERA) each have four wins in 65 and 75 innings, respectively.

The Series – Radford owns a 10-7 edge in the series… The Mountaineers won both ends of a doubleheader in Boone last season… RU is 7-2 at home and has won the last four meetings, including a 6-5 eight-inning triumph in 2012.

Up Next – Radford continues homestand with three-game series against first-place Coastal Carolina on April 22 and 23.

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