Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Burns HR Celeb PC

Softball

PITCHING & POWER ON DISPLAY AS SOFTBALL SWEEPS PC IN HOME OPENER

BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

RADFORD, Va. – Superb pitching and the long ball were on display as Radford Softball opened its newly renovated stadium with a pair of 6-0 shutouts over Presbyterian in Big South action on a sunny and windy afternoon at RU Softball Stadium.
 
PHOTO GALLERY

In front of a large crowd that filled the new stadium seating, the Highlanders (11-19, 5-3 Big South) did not disappoint. They smacked five home runs and their pitching staff held the Blue Hose (19-18, 4-7) to four hits, including a one-hit gem in game two by sophomore Rachael Walters. Freshman Abby Morrow wasn't too shabby herself as she allowed just three hits and struck out nine over six innings of work.
 
Sophomore Becky Mantel and freshman Kayla Bishton each recorded four hits in the twinbill. Mantel was 4-for-6 with a double, two home runs, three RBI and four runs scored. Bishton also went 4-for-6, to go along with three RBI and two runs scored.
 
This marked the first two games in the newly renovated RU Softball Stadium which features stadium seating, spacious new dugouts and pressbox.
 
G1 – Radford 6, Presbyterian 0
 
In the opener, Morrow was stellar in the circle and Radford hit three home runs in a 6-0 game-one win.
 
Morrow tossed six innings of three-hit shutout ball. She matched a career-best with nine strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Junior Kelsey Weddle retired the Blue Hose in order in the seventh to complete the shutout.
 
The big long ball was a three-run home run by sophomore Whitney Davis that highlighted a four-run third. After Davis' laser through the trees in centerfield, classmate Casey Burns sent the next pitch over the leftfield fence for a 4-0 advantage.
 
That was all Morrow needed as she struck out the side in both the second and fifth innings, helping her match her nine-strikeout performance against Savannah State on March 15.
 
Mantel got in on the home run barrage with a solo shot in the fourth. An unearned run in the sixth capped off the scoring.
 
Mantel, sophomore Nia Chiles and Bishton recorded two hits apiece in a nine-hit attack.  Mantel scored twice and Davis finished with three RBI.
 
Katie Brown suffered the defeat for the Blue Hose in 2.1 innings of work. She allowed four runs on six hits with a walk. Kensley Loudermelk surrendered an earned run in 3.2 frames of relief with a strikeout and two walks.
 
G2 – Radford 6, Presbyterian 0
 
Radford scored six runs in the first three innings and Walters did the rest as she twirled a one-hit gem in a 6-0 victory. The Highlanders hit two more home runs, which included Mantel's second of the day.
 
In her best start of the season, Walters' earned her first collegiate shutout with five strikeouts and one walk. Only two PC batters reached base, both in the fourth inning, as she retired the side in six of the seven innings.
 
Mantel and Bishton went yard for the Highlanders and each went 2-for-3 at the plate. Mantel knocked in two and scored twice, while Bishton tallied ed three RBI and two runs.

A successful squeeze play by senior Jessie Hutchens put the Highlanders on the board in the first.
 
A pair of two-out home runs closed out the scoring for the Highlanders. Mantel made it a 3-0 ball game with a two-run shot to left in the third. One inning later, Bishton sent a 3-run round tripper over the fence in rightcenter, the fifth long ball of the doubleheader for the Highlanders.
 
The rest was Walters. The only trouble she got into was in the fourth after a leadoff walk and an infield single put Blue Hose on first and second. As she did earlier and for the rest of the game, the lefty retired the next three batters and the final 12 of the contest.
 
Erin Ruff recorded the lone hit for the Blue Hose. Sydney Seigler took the loss as she allowed six runs, five earned, on six hits in 2.2 innings. She struck out four and did not walk a batter. Natasha Sherrod closed out the final 3.1 inning with a scoreless (2 hits, 2 K) relief effort.
 
The teams close out the series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
 
Print Friendly Version