SOFTBALL REBOUNDS TO NOTCH 5-0 SHUTOUT VICTORY

Friday, February 19

Jacksonville, FLA

2PM

Radford University

0-1

Penn State

3-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Radford	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2
Penn State	0	0	1	5	2	8	12	0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Radford	0	0	1	1	1	2	0	5	8	0
Jacksonville	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2

2/19/2016 9:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Abby Morrow pitched a one-hitter and five different Radford players drove in runs with hits as the Highlanders bounced back from Friday's earlier loss in the season opener with a 5-0 shutout of host Jacksonville in the Dolphin Invitational.

Aileen Morales notched her first victory as Radford's head coach and the Highlanders made it happen with a strong all-around performance.

"I am proud of how the team rebounded today after a tough opening game," Morales said. "They exhibited great resiliency in the second game while continuing to put pressure on the defense. Morrow threw with great presence and control, putting us in a situation to be successful. Summer (Robinson) led our offensive charge with strong at-bats. It was an overall great team win with everyone contributing in some capacity."

Morrow retired 21 of the 22 Jacksonville batters, while striking out three for the first complete-game one-hitter of her career. The lone Dolphin batter to reach base came on a two-out single in the fifth inning.

By that point, Radford's offense had built a 3-0 advantage. The Highlanders got on the board in the third inning on an RBI single by Robinson. Becky Mantel was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a single by Whitney Davis before Robinson drove her in with a two-out base hit to right.

Radford took advantage of another hit batter in the fourth as freshman Hannah Medlam reached, recorded her first career stolen base and scored on fellow freshman Marissa Yow's RBI double to left-center, her first career hit.

Mantel then led off the fifth by homering to left-center, the 24th of her career. The Highlanders added two more runs in the sixth on three singles and two Jacksonville errors. Medlam and Marissa Gagliano plated the runs with RBI singles.

Robinson also doubled in the game, going 2 for 4 as RU totaled eight hits off of two Jacksonville pitchers.

In Friday's opening game, Radford fell to Penn State 8-0. However, the game was scoreless after two innings and Penn State led just 1-0 after three before pulling away with five runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Morrow limited the Nittany Lions to just one hit in the first two frames before they used four straight two-out singles to get on the scoreboard in the third.

Radford had a chance to tie it up in the top of the fourth as Gagliano was hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on single by Casey Burns, putting runners on the corners with one out. However, a strikeout and a popout ended the threat.

Gagliano and Robinson had the other Highlander hits. Morrow pitched four innings and struck out six while walking just one. Freshman Kayla Huffman made her RU debut in the circle in the fifth.

Radford resumes action in the tournament Saturday at 2 p.m. as it faces Georgetown.

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