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Radford University Athletics

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SB Seniors 14

Softball

BUSY HOME FINALE WEEKEND AWAITS SOFTBALL AS IT HOSTS GARDNER-WEBB

STADIUM DEDICATION AND ESPN3 BROADCAST ON SATURDAY; SENIOR DAY / PINK GAME ON SUNDAY



LIVE STATS | ESPN3 (GAME 1 ONLY) | LIVE VIDEO (SUNDAY ONLY)
 
Radford closes out the home portion of its schedule hosting Gardner-Webb in a key Big South series this weekend. The Highlanders (20-22, 12-6 Big South) are currently in third place and still mathematically alive for the regular season title.
 
Along with seeding implications, the weekend is a busy one. On Saturday, April 26, there will be a dedication ceremony and "pick your seat" event prior to the Highlanders and Bulldogs (15-33, 5-15) squaring off on ESPN3 in the opener (1:00 p.m.) of the twinbill. Sunday, Radford will honor its seniors, Jessie Hutchens and Stephanie Dameron in a special recognition before first pitch of the home finale (1:00 p.m.)
 
Sunday's finale will be streamed live on the Big South Sports Network.
                    
Last Time Out – Radford dropped its Big South series to Coastal Carolina, picking up a 4-1 victory in game two… In the victory, Rachael Walters tossed a two-hitter and struck out eight in a complete-game victory… Summer Robinson, Whitney Davis and Kayla Bishton homered… In all, Radford hit six home runs in the series, two by Jessie Hutchens, off a Coastal staff that had allowed just 17 long balls all season (46 games) coming into the series… The Highlanders dropped the opener, 6-5 in eight innings and the finale, 8-3.
 
Highlander Bites – Currently third in Big South standings, percentage points behind Longwood… Still mathematically alive for the regular season title (needs to win final six games and Winthrop to sweep Coastal this weekend)… Had 11-game home winning streak snapped in game one versus Coastal… Fourth time RU has hit 50 home runs in a season, the first since 2010 (74)… Hit over half (27) of their 50 home runs in last 15 games… RU has hit six-plus round trippers in four of six conference series… Jessie Hutchens hit her 15th and 16th home runs against Coastal, tying Kristen Shifflett for second most in a single-season; She is two shy of the single-season mark of 18 set in 2010 by Nichole Beall… With Rachael Walters (108) and Abby Morrow (100) both reaching 100 strikeouts, it marks first time two RU pitchers have done so in a single season since 2007 (Ashley Taylor, 266 & Bre Felix, 200)… Hutchens also moved into a tie for fourth on all-time home run list with 31 (Melissa Pickel)… Hutchens ranks top 5 in home runs (2nd), slugging (2nd), RBI (t-2nd), OBP (4th),total bases (4th) and runs (t-5th); She is sixth in batting average… Becky Mantel leads the NCAA in hit by pitches per game (0.61) and overall (31)… Mantel has been hit more times (31) than seven of the eight other Big South programs… As a program, RU has now been hit a single-season record 51 times.
 
NCAA Rankings – Entering the week, Radford is ranked 21st in home runs per game (1.13)… Becky Mantel leads the NCAA in hit by pitches per game (0.69) and is tied for first in total HBPs (27)…  Jessie Hutchens: home runs per game (9th / .36), home runs (t-16th / 14), slugging (24th / .793), HBP per game (t-24th / .33)… Abby Morrow is 15th in fewest walks per seven innings (1.03)… Rachael Walters is tied for 19th with three saves.
 
Big South Rankings - Jessie Hutchens: Jessie Hutchens: home runs (2nd / 16), slugging (2nd / .808), RBI (t-2nd / 44), OBP (4th / .473), total bases (4th / 97), runs (t-5th / 34), average (6th / .367) ... Whitney Davis: slugging (7th / .667), home runs (t-6th / 9)… Julie Gardner: walks (5th / 20)...  Becky Mantel: OBP (7th  / .442), runs (8th / 32), home runs (t-9th / 8)… Rachael Walters: saves (1st / 3), appearances (t-4th / 32), starts (t-5th / 22), opp. batting average (7th / .240), strikeouts (8th / 108), wins (t-8th / 10) … Abby Morrow: saves (t-2nd / 2), appearances (t-6th / 31), strikeouts (9th / 100), ERA (10th / 2.89)... Team (played fewest games): home runs (2nd / 50), slugging (4th / .421); Pitching * (fewest IP by 25.1) – fewest walks per 7 IP (2nd / 1.89), strikeouts per 7IP (3rd / 6.24), strikeouts (5th / 232).
 
Big South History – Radford has won four of its six league series this season… Competing in its 23rd season of Big South play, Radford is 195-135 in league games, 118-41 since 2006… The Highlanders are 38-8 in conference weekends since the league introduced three-game series in 2007… They won a league-record 21 straight series between 2008 & 2011.
 
The Bulldogs – Gardner-Webb split a home doubleheader with Presbyterian on Wednesday, winning the opener, 5-2 before falling in the night cap, 8-6… Samantha Meenaghan paces the offense with a league-best 70 hits and is second with a .432 batting average, four triples and .522 OBP, respectively… She's also tallied a team-best five doubles, 29 runs and 22 RBI…Jessica Childers is 9-18 with a staff-best 3.54 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 166 innings of work.
 
The Series – Radford holds a 12-5 advantage in the series… Gardner-Webb took two of three last season in Boiling Springs with RU taking the finale, 12-4… The Highlanders are 7-1 at home, winning both series and one game during the 2009 and 2012 Big South Tournament, respectively.
 
Up Next – Radford has five more regular season contests, starting with a doubleheader at Virginia Tech on April 30.
 
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