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SOFTBALL FINISHES OFF ROAD STRETCH AT W. CAROLINA SATURDAY



RADFORD, Va. – The Radford softball team plays the last two of its 18 straight games away from home to begin the season as the Highlanders travel to Western Carolina for a doubleheader on Saturday.
 
Radford (11-5) is one win away from equaling its total for the entire 2015 campaign and its 11 victories are the most for a Big South team this season.
 
The teams faced each other last year at a neutral site, with Western Carolina taking a 4-1 decision. The only other prior meetings came in 2007 in Cullowhee, N.C.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
  • Series: Western Carolina leads 2-1
  • Location: Catamount Softball Complex (Cullowhee, N.C.)
  • Time: 2 p.m./4 p.m.
  • Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2
  • Live Video
 
HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS
  • Record: 11-5
  • Radford has won four of its last five games, including a doubleheader sweep at Norfolk State on Wednesday that featured a pair of shutouts.
  • Abby Morrow has pitched 35 innings straight innings without issuing a walk and is fourth in the nation this season in walks allowed per seven innings at 0.35.
  • Morrow now ranks second in the Big South with a 2.33 ERA and has allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of her last five outings.
  • Kayla Huffman owns a 3-0 record and her 2.66 ERA is fifth in the conference. She and Morrow are tied for second in opponents' batting average at .216.
  • The Highlanders also lead in the Big South in fielding percentage at .969, after finishing the 2015 campaign last in the league. RU has committed just 15 errors this season.
  • Becky Mantel is tied for third in the conference with a .475 on-base percentage and tied for fifth with 15 runs scored. She is batting .340 with 10 RBIs.
  • Marissa Gagliano is batting a team-best .365 with 13 runs scored and 10 RBIs.
  • Radford has totaled 29 doubles on the season and ranks 17th nationally in doubles per game (1.81). Marissa Yow has seven of them, along with team-leading 12 RBIs.
  • Gagliano, Mantel and Nia Chiles have combined for 21 of the team's 23 stolen bases.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA
  • Record: 16-7
  • Western Carolina is coming off a doubleheader sweep, defeating SIU Edwardsville 2-1 and 7-3 Thursday evening in its first two home games of the season.
  • The Catamounts have won four in a row and five of their last seven, with the losses coming to nationally-ranked Georgia and Minnesota.
  • WCU split a pair of games at Big South member Charleston Southern during its second weekend of the season. The Catamounts also defeated Jacksonville (6-5) last weekend. Radford beat Jacksonville 5-0 for its first victory.
  • Western hit five home runs in the two games on Thursday and now has 19 on the season.
  • Senior Crystal Cyr leads the team with five home runs and 19 RBIs, while hitting .279.
  • Junior Courtney Price has hit four home runs, while leading the team with seven doubles and ranking second with 18 RBIs.
  • Senior Karley Harkey also has four homers, to go along with three doubles, two triples and 17 RBIs.
  • The Catamounts are batting .289 as a team, led by Abigail Daniels at .347.
  • In the circle, freshman Lily Hayes lead the team in starts with 10, but notched both of the Thursday's victories in relief. She has a 7-2 record with a 2.58 ERA. The left-hander has 48 strikeouts and 23 walks in 57 innings.
  • Senior Taylor Sigmon owns a 1.75 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 19 walks in 56 innings (seven starts).
 
UP NEXT
Radford plays its home opener on Wednesday, welcoming East Carolina for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
For the latest on Radford Athletics, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Highlander Happenings.
 
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Players Mentioned

Nia Chiles

#7 Nia Chiles

UT
5' 11"
Senior
L/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
Kayla Huffman

#22 Kayla Huffman

P
5' 7"
Freshman
R/R
Marissa Yow

#23 Marissa Yow

C
5' 9"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Nia Chiles

#7 Nia Chiles

5' 11"
Senior
L/R
UT
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
Kayla Huffman

#22 Kayla Huffman

5' 7"
Freshman
R/R
P
Marissa Yow

#23 Marissa Yow

5' 9"
Freshman
R/R
C