Softball 3/16/2018 4:38:00 PM

HIGHLANDERS BEGIN BIG SOUTH PLAY WITH SERIES AT LONGWOOD

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RADFORD, Va. – The second half - and one of the most important times of the season - will get underway this weekend as the Radford softball team begins Big South play in Farmville, Va., against defending Big South Tournament champion, Longwood.

Saturday's doubleheader contests against the Lancers will begin at 2 p.m., and game one will be broadcast live and can been seen on ESPN3 via WatchESPN. Sunday's game will begin at 1 p.m.

SETTING THE STAGE

Opponent: Longwood (12-8)
Series: Longwood leads 24-15 (Last Meeting: May 10, 2017 | Longwood won 6-1)
Location: Farmville, Va. (Lancer Field)
Watch Live (Saturday)
Live Stats

HIGHLANDER HIGHLIGHTS

Radford (14-9) traveled to the Panhandle over spring break and had games against Florida A&M, North Florida and Savannah State.
The Highlanders came away with a 2-2 record over that week with two wins over Florida A&M.
As a team the Highlanders are hitting .238, but Marissa Gagliano leads the squad with a .414 batting average. Her batting average ranks fourth in the Big South.
Gagliano leads the Big South with a .534 on-base percentage and is eighth with a .600 slugging percentage.
Radford has 82 RBIs this season, led by Hunter Mundy with 15. She is also tied for the tam lead with four doubles.
The Highlanders have a 2.79 team ERA. Abby Morrow has been the key element in the circle and leads the team with a 1.75 ERA and a 9-5 record.
Abby Morrow ranks inside the top 10 nationally in walks allowed per seven innings averaging 0.38 (third).
The Highlanders have not lost three games in a row this season. They've lost back-to-back games only twice this season.

Talia Douglas is hitting .343 with three home runs and 14 RBIs. She leads the Highlander freshmen in both categories.
Sofia Tapia and Hunter Mundy have eight of Radford's 19 home runs as each player has four.

SCOUTING LONGWOOD (12-8)

Winners of 12 games this season, Longwood posted a 30-29 record last season but took up the Big South Tournament title and made the Knoxville Regional.
The Lancers were picked to finish first in the conference this season.
Longwood has faced some tough teams this season, but has come away with three wins in a row. One of them came against James Madison, who is receiving votes in two polls.
Radford is one of two teams Longwood has never lost to since joining the Big South, going a perfect 17-0 during the regular season and postseason against the Highlanders.
Longwood has four players batting above the .300 mark after not having a single player bat above .300 a season ago. Jessica Smith leads the way with a .361 average, while Jordan Clark (.338), Kaylynn Batten (.333) and Krista Kelly (.317) all batting above .300.
Sydney Backstrom leads the team with a 1.76 ERA and a 5-3 record. Sydney Gay has a team-high 45 strikeouts this season.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#4 Talia Douglas: IF; 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

#4 Talia Douglas
: 5' 5"; Freshman; R/R
: IF