Softball 4/14/2015 2:08:00 PM

SOFTBALL RETURNS HOME TO HOST APPALACHIAN STATE

Radford (10-23, 5-9 BSC) :: Appalachian State (10-26, 1-17 Sun Belt)
Wednesday, April 15, 2015 :: 5:00 p.m./7:00 p.m.
Radford Softball Stadium :: Radford, Va.
Live Stats (Game 1) :: Live Stats (Game 2)

Radford Highlanders (10-23, 5-9 Big South)
Roster | Schedule | Game Notes | Season Stats | Twitter | Instagram

RADFORD, Va. ---- After eight straight road games, Radford returns to the Radford Softball Stadium to host Appalachian State on Wednesday, April 15, for a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m.

Last week, the Highlanders played a pair of Big South Conference series at Liberty and Coastal Carolina.

Mackenzie Blackwell enters the nonconference matchup with the Mountaineers having reached base in 12 straight games, marking the longest active streak on the team after Becky Mantel's 18-game streak came to a close on April 12. Blackwell has a hit in eight of the past 10 games.

Nia Chiles connected on a pitch in the sixth inning at Coastal Carolina and sent it into the trees in right-centerfield for her first career home run and fourth extra base hit of the season. Chiles is one of four Radford hitters to have a double, triple and home run in 2015.

Abby Morrow saw her first action since Feb. 28 when she pitched 4.1 innings in relief during the doubleheader at Coastal Carolina on April 11. Tiffany Brown threw her third complete game of the season on April 8, holding Liberty to one run on two hits in the 143-pitch performance. It was Brown's second win on the season.

Mantel reached base 10 out of 13 times against Liberty last week over the three-game series. In game two against the Flames, Mantel reached five out of five times, getting hit by a pitch twice, walking twice and hitting a double in the seventh. Her streak of reaching base came to a close at 18 consecutive games after failing to find first at Coastal Carolina on April 12. Mantel has consistently raised her average to a team-best .322. Over the past 10 games, she has hit .379 with seven RBI.

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.

The Forecast
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Scouting the Mountaineers
Appalachian State has lost 13 of its last 15 contests. Last time out, the Mountaineers downed Georgia State 14-5. It was Appalachian State's first win since March 18 against Charlotte. Sarah Warnock enters the midweek doubleheader in Radford as the team's top bat with a .323 average. Caroline Chambers has a team-high six home runs on the year, while Heather Josey's 11 extra base hits paces the Mountaineers. In the circle, Vanessa Ciocatto has appeared in 31 games, starting 20. Ciocatto has a team-low 5.05 ERA.

Radford vs. Appalachian State: The Series
Radford leads the all-time series against Appalachian State, 12-7. The two programs first met in April of 2002, with the teams splitting a doubleheader in Radford. The Highlanders took game one, 1-0, before falling to the Mountaineers 3-2.

Radford swept Appalachian State last time the two met last year. The Highlanders downed the Mountaineers at the Radford Softball Stadium, 3-2, 4-1. Appalachian State took the doubleheader in 2013 in Boone, N.C., 2-1, 11-3 (6). Radford has taken three of the past five matchups and seven of the past 10 dating back to 2007.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Mackenzie Blackwell: OF; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

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

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

#2 Abby Morrow: P; 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R

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

Players Mentioned

#8 Mackenzie Blackwell
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: OF

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

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

#2 Abby Morrow
: 5' 10"; Sophomore; R/R
: P

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