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MORALES MAKES DEBUT AS SOFTBALL OPENS IN JACKSONVILLE FRIDAY


 
Live Stats vs. Penn State
Live Stats vs. Jacksonville

RADFORD, Va. – Led by first-year head coach Aileen Morales, the Radford softball team officially gets a fresh start on Friday when it begins the 2016 season at the Dolphin Invitational, hosted by Jacksonville University.
 
The Highlanders will face Penn State in their season opener with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m, followed by a game against Jacksonville Friday at 7 p.m.
 
Coming off a tough 2015 campaign that featured several key injuries, Radford's returnees are ready to turn things back in the right direction under the guidance of Morales, who has seen significant progression since the start of practice back in the fall.
 
"We've made leaps and bounds of improvement," she said. "I've really been impressed with the work ethic of the girls. They've gone above and beyond everything we've asked of them and just continued to come to the field with a purpose and a passion. I think the hard work we've done and everything we did in the fall is definitely beginning to pay off and we're looking forward to starting the season and playing some other teams."
 
Two-time All-Big South second team outfielder Becky Mantel leads a group of four seniors looking for a strong finish to their RU careers. Along with Mantel, fellow seniors Whitney Davis, Nia Chiles and Casey Burns were among the team's top five batting leaders last year. Mantel ranked sixth in the Big South in on-base percentage, while leading the team in runs scored. Davis, who will likely shift to first base defensively, hit a team-best nine home runs and was seventh in the conference in RBIs. Second-baseman Chiles hit a career-best .302, while third baseman Burns racked up 14 doubles, second-most in the league.
 
The return of junior pitcher Abby Morrow will provide a big boost. Morrow posted a 2.91 ERA and was among the NCAA's top 10 in fewest walks allowed as a freshman, before missing the final 40 games of 2015. Also returning from injury is redshirt freshman Marissa Gagliano, who started the first two games at shortstop last season before being sidelined. Junior outfielders Summer Robinson and Kayla Bishton are also back after combining to start all but one game a year ago.
 
The returnees are joined by eight true freshmen, including pitchers Kayla Huffman, Lauren McIntyre and mid-year addition Haley Hutchins, giving Morales and pitching coach Travis Owen four arms to work with. On the negative side, returning pitcher Tiffany Brown and catcher Maggie Rowe, who earned All-Freshman Team honors last year, will be out this season with injuries.
 
Morales, who starred as a player at Georgia Tech, is set to make her Division I head coaching debut. After assisting at her alma mater for five seasons, she led Division II Young Harris (Ga.) to a program-record 31 wins in 2015. Morales is also being assisted by former RU standout Hope Creasy.
 
"My goal each and every day and this season is to be the best that we can possibly be," Morales said. "You can win a game and not play to your best level and I'm not going to be satisfied with that. And there are times when you're going to lose a game and play to the best of your ability and the chips just didn't fall where you wanted them to. So to me, success for our program is defined by the team reaching it's full potential."
 
Following Friday's opening day, Radford will play Georgetown on Saturday before wrapping up the tournament against Pittsburgh on Sunday. Each of the Highlanders' four opponents started their seasons last weekend.
 
RU will be on the road for its first 18 games before hosting East Carolina for a doubleheader on March 16. A total 13 of the team's 17 home games will come in April, featuring Big South series against Coastal Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Presbyterian and in-state rival Liberty, along with a matchup against Virginia Tech.
 
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Players Mentioned

Kayla Bishton

#20 Kayla Bishton

OF/1B
5' 8"
Junior
L/L
Tiffany Brown

#0 Tiffany Brown

P
5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
Casey Burns

#3 Casey Burns

1B/3B
5' 7"
Senior
R/R
Nia Chiles

#7 Nia Chiles

UT
5' 11"
Senior
L/R
Whitney Davis

#15 Whitney Davis

3B
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Marissa Gagliano

#5 Marissa Gagliano

OF/SS
5' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
L/R
Becky Mantel

#12 Becky Mantel

OF
5' 4"
Senior
R/R
Abby Morrow

#2 Abby Morrow

P
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Summer Robinson

#6 Summer Robinson

OF
5' 3"
Junior
R/R
Maggie Rowe

#38 Maggie Rowe

C/1B
5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
Kayla Huffman

#22 Kayla Huffman

P
5' 7"
Freshman
R/R
Lauren McIntyre

#8 Lauren McIntyre

P/INF
5' 5"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Kayla Bishton

#20 Kayla Bishton

5' 8"
Junior
L/L
OF/1B
Tiffany Brown

#0 Tiffany Brown

5' 8"
Sophomore
R/R
P
Casey Burns

#3 Casey Burns

5' 7"
Senior
R/R
1B/3B
Nia Chiles

#7 Nia Chiles

5' 11"
Senior
L/R
UT
Whitney Davis

#15 Whitney Davis

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
3B
Marissa Gagliano

#5 Marissa Gagliano

5' 4"
Redshirt Freshman
L/R
OF/SS
Becky Mantel

#12 Becky Mantel

5' 4"
Senior
R/R
OF
Abby Morrow

#2 Abby Morrow

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
P
Summer Robinson

#6 Summer Robinson

5' 3"
Junior
R/R
OF
Maggie Rowe

#38 Maggie Rowe

5' 4"
Sophomore
R/R
C/1B
Kayla Huffman

#22 Kayla Huffman

5' 7"
Freshman
R/R
P
Lauren McIntyre

#8 Lauren McIntyre

5' 5"
Freshman
R/R
P/INF