SOFTBALL TO FACE NO. 9 OKLAHOMA, LIPSCOMB ON SATURDAY

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RADFORD, Va. – As it prepares for the stretch run of Big South play, the Radford softball team will face two more non-conference tests on Saturday as it travels to Knoxville, Tenn. for a pair of games in the Tennessee Classic.

The Highlanders will take on ninth-ranked Oklahoma at 4:30 p.m., followed by a matchup against Atlantic Sun member Lipscomb at 7 p.m. It will be Radford's first-ever game against the perennial national power Sooners.

SETTING THE STAGE

Location: Sherri Parker Lee Stadium (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Time: 4:30/7 p.m.
Live Stats: vs. Oklahoma | vs. Lipscomb
Series: First meeting with Oklahoma | Radford leads Lipscomb 2-1

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 29-16
Wednesday's 4-0 defeat to Virginia Tech marked just the third time Radford was held off the scoreboard this season and first since Feb. 28 – a span of 37 games.
Becky Mantel had the lone Highlander hit to reach base for the 19th straight game, dating back to March 26.
Despite suffering a loss for the first time in seven appearances, Abby Morrow's ERA remained at 1.90, second in the Big South.
Lauren McIntyre, who allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings of relief Wednesday night, now ranks second in the nation in fewest walks allowed (0.41 per 7 IP). Morrow stands fourth at 0.53 and is on-pace to set a new program mark (minimum 85 IP).
Radford has issued just 47 walks as a team. The program record for fewest in a season is 61 in 1996.
Shortstop Marissa Gagliano leads the Big South with 122 assists on the season. Only one other player has more than 90.
Whitney Davis' 385 putouts are 80 more than any other first baseman in the conference.
With 14 triples, this year's Highlanders are one away from tying for fifth-most in school history and four from tying the record.

SCOUTING OKLAHOMA

Record: 35-7
Oklahoma is in its 316th consecutive week of being ranked in the NFCA poll, the longest run in history of the ranking.
The Sooners take a season-long 10-game winning streak into a showdown with host Tennessee Saturday on ESPN, just prior to the game against Radford.
Oklahoma ranks third in the nation with a .356 team batting average, with each regular in the lineup over .300. Freshman Shay Knighten, the conference's reigning Player of the Week, leads the way at .396, seventh in the conference. Senior outfielder Erin Miller is at .391, followed by freshman Sydney Romero at .365.
Knighten has nine home runs and eight doubles, while Miller has totaled 16 doubles and eight homers and Romero has 11 doubles and five longballs. Miller is tied for second in the Big 12 with 42 RBIs and tied for first in total bases.
Lefty ace Paige Parker is the Big 12's ERA at 1.76. However, the Highlanders will likely face senior Kelsey Stevens (7-4, 4.18 ERA) or freshman Jayden Chestnut (6-0, 3.28 ERA).

SCOUTING LIPSCOMB

Record: 23-22
Lipscomb is in fifth-place in the seven-team Atlantic Sun Conference with a 7-8 record and is coming off a 6-0 non-conference win over Murray State on Wednesday.
The Bisons share one common opponent with Radford, having won two of three games against conference foe Jacksonville, whom the Highlanders defeated 4-0 on the first day of the season.
As a team, Lipscomb is hitting .275 with 46 doubles and 28 home runs.
Sarah Higgins is batting .367 with nine homers and 31 RBIs, while Abby Fenichel is at .313 with 12 doubles, seven HR's and 31 RBIs.
Brittany Elmore leads the team with a .393 average, 31 runs and 29 stolen bases (on 35 attempts). Lipscomb is 68 of 81 on steal attempts overall.
In the circle, Tanner Sanders is 9-12 with a 2.45 ERA and 117 strikeouts in 134.1 innings. Kelly Young has an 11-8 mark, a 3.03 ERA and 168 strikeouts in 129.1 innings.

UP NEXT
Radford returns to Big South play and completes its home schedule with a big series against Liberty next week. The in-state rivals will play a doubleheader on Tuesday and a single game on Wednesday.

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Players Mentioned

#15 Whitney Davis: 3B; 5' 11"; Senior; R/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

#8 Lauren McIntyre: P/INF; 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#15 Whitney Davis
: 5' 11"; Senior; R/R
: 3B

#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

#8 Lauren McIntyre
: 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R
: P/INF