RADFORD TRAVELS TO GARDNER-WEBB FOR WEEKEND SERIES

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RADFORD, Va. – The Radford softball team will look to carry the momentum of Wednesday's non-conference doubleheader sweep as it returns to Big South play with a three-game series at Gardner-Webb on Saturday and Sunday.

The first game of Saturday's doubleheader is set for a 2 p.m. start and will air on ESPN3. The nightcap and Sunday's 2 p.m. series finale will be shown on the Big South Network.

The Highlanders hold a 19-9 all-time edge on Gardner-Webb, including a three-game sweep last year that included both an 8-0 six-inning win and an 11-9 11-inning victory. Radford is 7-5 in games at Gardner-Webb, but has dropped two of three in each of its last two visits.

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Record: 15-13, 1-2
The three consecutive run-rule wins are the most for Radford since it posted four in a row in a span of four days in April of 2014 (one against Presbyterian and three over Liberty).
The Highlanders now have a trio of three-game win streaks this season, but have yet to post four consecutive victories.
Kayla Huffman's scoreless innings streak is now at 26.1, covering six appearances and four starts. Her last run allowed came in relief against East Tennessee State on March 17. She has totaled 39 strikeouts during the streak, while allowing just 17 hits, all of them singles.
For the season, Huffman is now second in the Big South with a 2.76 ERA, sixth in strikeouts with 58 in 53.1 innings and sixth in opponent batting average (.254).
Abby Morrow notched her 11th win of the year and 42nd of her career Wednesday and is now seventh in the conference with a 3.29 ERA. She leads the league in both victories and complete games and is third in innings pitched.
Hunter Mundy extended her hitting streak to seven games, with multiple hits in six of them, including five in a row. She is an amazing 14 for 20 (.700) over the seven outings, including 11 for 15 (.733) during the last five.
Overall, the freshman now ranks sixth in the Big South with a .375 average and fourth with 25 RBIs, including at least one in 10 straight games. Mundy also has a team-high 10 multiple-hit and eight multi-RBI games on the season.
Brittany Wratchford is now tied for the third in the conference with seven home runs and has 22 RBIs, including back-to-back four-RBI games.
Marissa Gagliano totaled five RBIs in the two games Wednesday while hitting her first career homer and moving up to fifth in the league with 24 runs scored.
Along with Mundy and Wratchford, four other Highlanders have double-digit RBIs. Maggie Rowe has 16, Sofia Tapia 15, Kayla Bishton 14 and Summer Robinson 12.
Radford is now second among conference teams in home runs per game (0.93) and third in both runs (4.64) and doubles per game.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB

Record: 10-20, 3-2
Gardner-Webb has not played since posting 10-1 five-inning win in Sunday's finale of a three-game series at Charleston Southern.
The Runnin' Bulldogs had opened up conference play with a home doubleheader sweep over Winthrop on March 22 before losing the first to CSU.
Pitching by committee, Gardner-Webb owns a 3.80 team ERA with totals of 102 strikeouts and 92 walks on the season.
The trio of Ashley Wark, Summer Darnell and Mackenzie Thompson have combined to start 26 of the 30 games, led by Thompson's 13 starts and 59.1 innings. She has a 2-9 record with a 4.25 ERA and team-highs of 30 strikeouts and 25 walks.
Wark is 5-4 with a 3.93 ERA in 46.1 innings, while Darnell is 1-5 with a 3.79 ERA in 40.2 innings.
GWU is batting .249 as a team and averaging 3.77 runs per game with 35 doubles and seven triples, but just six home runs and six stolen bases.
Freshman Alia Booth leads the way with a .299 average, three homers, three triples, two doubles and 22 RBIs.
Five teammates are batting .276 or better and six have at least 11 RBIs.
Rachel Cumiskey Megan Gibbons, Megan Champion and Kaylee Wacaster have combined for 23 doubles and 54 RBIs, with Gibbons and Wacaster each second on the team with 15 RBIs.

UP NEXT

Radford visits East Carolina for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday.
Following this series, the Highlanders play 12 of their last 15 Big South games at home.

For the latest on Radford Athletics, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Highlander Happenings.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#38 Maggie Rowe: C; 5' 4"; Junior; R/R

#3 Hunter Mundy: 3B; 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R

#13 Sofia Tapia: OF; 5' 3"; Freshman; L/L

#11 Brittany Wratchford: INF; 5' 4"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

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

#38 Maggie Rowe
: 5' 4"; Junior; R/R
: C

#3 Hunter Mundy
: 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R
: 3B

#13 Sofia Tapia
: 5' 3"; Freshman; L/L
: OF

#11 Brittany Wratchford
: 5' 4"; Senior; R/R
: INF