SOFTBALL BEGINS HOME SERIES VS. GARDNER-WEBB FRIDAY NIGHT

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RADFORD, Va. – Due to the forecast for inclement weather, Radford will start its Big South Conference series against Gardner-Webb with a single game Friday night at Radford Softball Stadium, with first pitch set for 6:30 p.m. A decision on Saturday's scheduled doubleheader will be made as the weather unfolds.

SETTING THE STAGE

Day/Time: Friday, April 8 | 6:30 p.m.
Location: Radford Softball Stadium
Live Stats
Series: Radford leads 16-9
History: The teams met four times last year, with Gardner-Webb winning three, including the opening game of the Big South Tournament. Radford has won each of the three conference series' on its homefield and is 9-2 overall.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 21-15, 4-5
Radford recorded seven doubles in Wednesday's doubleheader at Appalachian State and now has a Big South-best 58, six more than its total from all of last season. RU is now 29th in the nation in doubles per game.
Individually, Kayla Bishton is tied for second in the conference with 11, Marissa Yow shares fourth with 10 and Marissa Gagliano is tied for eighth with eight.
With one more double, Bishton will have twice as many as her first two seasons combined, while her .316 average this year is more than .100 higher than 2015.
The Highlanders have homered in six consecutive games with a total of nine in that span.
Becky Mantel ranks fifth in the conference with 29 runs scored and is second on the team with six home runs and 23 RBIs. She has reached base in 10 straight games.
Summer Robinson has three home runs and eight RBIs over the last five games. She has surpassed her previous season-highs with four homers and 19 RBIs.
More than half (14 of 27) of Whitney Davis' hits this season have been for extra bases, including seven home runs and six doubles. She stands fourth in the Big South with 28 RBIs.
Gagliano continues to be second in the conference in stolen bases, now with 21. She is also fourth in hits (42) and tied for sixth in runs (27).
The Highlanders lead the Big South with just 42 walks allowed, 22 fewer than second-place Presbyterian. Every other team has at least 90.
Radford is now third in team ERA at 3.00, with Abby Morrow third individually (2.42).
In her 10 appearances in the circle, Lauren McIntyre is 5-0 with a 2.65 ERA and one walk over 31.2 innings.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB

Record: 17-18, 3-5
Gardner-Webb is coming off a doubleheader split at home against Presbyterian on Wednesday, winning the nightcap 6-2 after a 4-0 loss in the opener.
The Runnin' Bulldogs will be playing their first road conference games. They dropped two out of three at home to both Campbell and Charleston Southern.
Like Radford, GWU has surpassed its win total from the 2015 season (15).
Gardner-Webb is batting .277 as a team – with four players over .300 – and is tied for second in the conference with 49 doubles.
Senior Amanda Gomes leads the team with a .354 average, six home runs and 26 RBIs. She also has seven doubles.
Senior Jill Blank is batting .346 with a team-high 37 hits, along with 22 RBIs.
Sophomore Rachel Cumiskey has nine doubles and 24 RBIs, while freshman Kaylee Wacaster has a conference-high 12 doubles. She also has a team-best 12 stolen bases on 12 attempts.
Three pitchers have made at least eight starts in the circle. Junior McKenzie Thompson leads the way 16 and is 9-7 with a 3.38 ERA and 12 complete games. She has 55 strikeouts and 41 walks in the 97.1 innings.
Freshman Devyn Terry is 3-4 with a 3.72 ERA in 58.1 innings, while junior Summer Darnell is 5-4 with a 3.96 ERA in 46 innings. She has 46 strikeouts with 21 walks.

UP NEXT
Following the series, Radford makes its final non-conference roadtrip to face in-state foe Hampton for a doubleheader on Wednesday.

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Players Mentioned

#20 Kayla Bishton: OF/1B; 5' 8"; Junior; L/L

#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

#6 Summer Robinson: OF; 5' 3"; Junior; R/R

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

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

Players Mentioned

#20 Kayla Bishton
: 5' 8"; Junior; L/L
: OF/1B

#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

#6 Summer Robinson
: 5' 3"; Junior; R/R
: OF

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

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