SOFTBALL FINISHES OFF ROAD STRETCH AT W. CAROLINA SATURDAY

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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.

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Players Mentioned

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

#5 Marissa Gagliano: OF/SS; 5' 4"; Redshirt Freshman; L/R

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

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

#22 Kayla Huffman: P; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#23 Marissa Yow: C; 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

#5 Marissa Gagliano
: 5' 4"; Redshirt Freshman; L/R
: OF/SS

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

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

#22 Kayla Huffman
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: P

#23 Marissa Yow
: 5' 9"; Freshman; R/R
: C