Softball 3/21/2015 7:18:00 PM

SOFTBALL DROPS OPENING GAME AT PC, STUMBLES IN EXTRAS IN GAME TWO

BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 CLINTON, S.C. ---- After being held to three hits in the first game at Presbyterian College on Saturday at the PC Softball Complex, Radford rallied in game two with five runs on eight hits, falling just short in 10 innings, 6-5. The Highlanders dropped the series opener, 8-0.

"The effort and communication was much better in the second game than the first, which is what we asked of them in between games," said head coach Maggie White. "We need to make fewer mistakes and take advantage of more opportunities."

Becky Mantel led Radford (6-14, 2-3 BSC) at the dish in the first two games of the series, recording five hits in seven at bats. Mantel went 2-2 in game one and then cranked another three runs in the second game with an RBI double in the seventh to give the Highlanders a 4-2 lead. Maggie Rowe batted .333 on the day with both her hits coming in game two. Rowe gave the Red and White its first lead of the day on a two-run homer.

"Becky is a catalyst in our lineup, and with a higher average we want her near the top of the order," White said. "When the opportunity is big, she usually steps up."

Taylor Asimakopoulos started in the circle in game one, but was pulled after 3.1 innings. Asimakopoulos gave up seven runs on seven hits, striking out one batter. Tiffany Brown came in as relief, logging 0.2 innings and surrendering one run. Brown pitched an additional 5.1 innings in game two, giving up two earned runs on four hits. She finished the day with four strikeouts. Kelsey Weddle started in the circle in the second game, pitching 3.2 innings and holding the Blue Hose to two runs on six hits.

Radford and Presbyterian College (13-11, 3-1 BSC) will wrap up the series on Sunday, March 22, at 10 a.m. The game was originally slated for 1 p.m., but due to the forecast, both coaches agreed to start earlier.

For the latest news on the Radford softball team, follow the Highlanders on Twitter at @RadfordSoftball. To keep up with all Radford athletics, follow @RU_Athletics on Twitter.

:: GAME 1 ::
Radford surrendered an early run in the second inning, but a seven-run fourth gave Presbyterian the 8-0 victory in the five-inning contest.

The Blue Hose loaded the bases in the first, but back-to-back diving catches from Summer Robinson and Whitney Davis stranded the runners and kept the game scoreless.

Presbyterian struck first in the bottom of the second on a single off the bat of Jill McLean. Blaire Miller notched her second double of the season over the head of the jumping Mantel to set the stage for McLean's single under the diving Nia Chiles at second.

The Blue Hose doubled their score in the fourth on a lead off solo home run from Erin Taylor to left field. Presbyterian, up 2-0, continued to add to its total in the inning with six more runs coming across the plate. A pair of singles and fielder's choices loaded the bases for the Blue Hose. A walk scored one run before an ensuing single and double plated four more. Padgett Harrington batted in the frame's final run on a single hit to the right side.

:: GAME 2 ::
Presbyterian jumped out ahead early, hitting a home run in the bottom of the first inning over the right field wall. Radford battled back though with four unanswered before the Blue Hose rallied late to force extras and win 6-5 in the 10th inning.

The Blue Hose put runners on the corners in the second with one out. A walk from Weddle loaded the bases for McLean, who went 1-3 with an RBI in game one. A liner hit right at Davis at short ended the threat to keep the Highlanders' deficit to 1-0.

Radford took its first lead of the day in the top of the fourth inning on a two-RBI home run by Rowe. Mantel led off with a one-out single to the shortstop. Rowe's second home run of the season cleared the left field wall between the pine trees outside the fence. It was Rowe's first homer since hitting a grand slam on Feb. 14 against George Mason.

Blaire Miller knotted the game once again in the fourth with a two-out RBI double. Erin Taylor reached on a single hit just out of the reach of Weddle in the circle to bring Miller to the plate.

Radford threatened in the fifth inning with two runners in scoring position. Robinson nearly came in to score on a wild throw home after Chiles singled to left, but the Presbyterian defense recovered before Robinson could make the trip down the line.

Errors put two Highlanders on in the seventh knotted 2-2. Robinson reached on an error charged to the third baseman trying to field a shot sent down the baseline. With two out, Chiles hit a chopper to second and reached on a second Blue Hose error. With runners on the corners, Burns hit a high blooper toward right-center field that dropped in for an RBI. Mantel extended the lead with a double to left to score one. It was Mantel's first double of the season.

Presbyterian cut into the two-run deficit with a two-out rally in the bottom of the side. Erin Ruff reached on a single down the left field line and came in to score on a double from Kirsten Legacki. A second double, this time from Hope Rogers, scored a second to tie the game at 4-4.

Both sides went 1-2-3 in the eighth and ninth innings to force a 10th. Tiebreaker rules applied in the 10th frame, automatically placing a runner on second base. With Chiles standing on second and two out, Rowe hit a shot to left field that fell just in front on the left fielder to bring Chiles in to score, breaking the tie, 5-4.

In the bottom of the 10th, an error put the leadoff runner on and advanced the runner on second. One run came home on a fielding error trying to play the bunt laid down by Rogers. A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded plated the final run and ended the game.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Nia Chiles: UT; 5' 11"; Junior; L/R

#15 Whitney Davis: 3B; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

#12 Becky Mantel: OF; 5' 4"; Junior; R/R

#6 Summer Robinson: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R

#11 Kelsey Weddle: P; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

#38 Maggie Rowe: C/1B; 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R

#0 Tiffany Brown: P; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

#24 Taylor Asimakopoulos: P; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#7 Nia Chiles
: 5' 11"; Junior; L/R
: UT

#15 Whitney Davis
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: 3B

#12 Becky Mantel
: 5' 4"; Junior; R/R
: OF

#6 Summer Robinson
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF

#11 Kelsey Weddle
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: P

#38 Maggie Rowe
: 5' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: C/1B

#0 Tiffany Brown
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#24 Taylor Asimakopoulos
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: P