BATS STAY HOT; SOFTBALL SWEEPS LIBERTY IN LEAGUE SERIES WITH 10-2 WIN

JESSIE HUTCHENS SETS PROGRAM RECORD WITH 11 TOTAL BASES

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RADFORD, Va. – Radford matched a school record with five home runs, two each from senior Jessie Hutchens and sophomore Whitney Davis, as the Highlanders (15-19, 9-3 Big South) topped Liberty (6-34, 1-14), 10-2 to sweep their second straight Big South series and run their winning streak to six games.

The Highlanders hit 11 home runs in the series and 17 in their last six games. Hutchens and Davis combined to go 7-for-7 with eight RBI and five runs scored.

Hutchens, who was a career best 4-for-4 with a double, five RBI and three runs scored, set a single-game program record with 11 total bases. She launched her second grand slam in as many games and finished the series, 7-for-10 with four home runs and 13 RBI. RU has blasted three grand slams (Hutchens 2, Davis) in last four contests.

Davis extended her career-best hitting streak to nine games. She was a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs. The third baseman also ended the series 7-for-10 (two doubles, two home runs, five RBI and six runs scored).

Radford's final nine runs came via the long ball, including back-to-back solo shots by Hutchens and Davis to end the game with no outs in the sixth. It was Hutchens' 11^th and 12^th of the season, a new career high.

Following a single run in the first, Hutchens went yard with her two-out grand slam in the second. Her opposite field shot to right center came on a 1-2 pitch and extended Radford's lead to 5-0.

The Lady Flames scored single runs in the third and fifth innings, one coming on a RBI infield single by Blair Lawrence. She, along with Grace Nordan recorded two hits. Nordan scored both Lady Flames' runs.

Davis and sophomore Becky Mantel joined in on the fun to push the advantage to 8-2. Davis cranked a two-run missile to dead centerfield in the fourth and Mantel's two-out solo home run in the fifth added to the lead. Davis and Mantel brought their season totals to seven and eight, respectively.

Sophomore Rachael Walters and freshman Abby Morrow both tossed three innings and finished with similar lines. They both surrendered a run on three hits with no walks. Morrow (7-4), who earned the win in relief, struck out six. The starter, Walters, fanned four.

It marked the fourth straight contest Radford has run-ruled its opponent and scored 10-plus runs. In addition, it is the highest four-game run output (49) since 2008 (41).

Mantel crossed the dish three times, finished the series with nine runs. She was hit twice, matching her own single-season record of 20, set a season ago. It also brought her career mark of 40.

The Highlanders hit the road for a three-game series at Charleston Southern, starting on Saturday, April 12 with a doubleheader at 1:00 p.m.

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