Softball 2/12/2019 4:58:00 PM

2019 POSITION PREVIEW: INFIELD/OUTFIELD

Follow @RadfordSoftball

RADFORD, Va. - With softball season right around the corner, RadfordAthletics.com will break down the Highlander battery, infield and outfield in the coming days to prepare fans for the 2019 season.

Radford relied on a consistent defense last season, which paid dividends with a 36-19 record. The Highlanders posted a .968 fielding percentage – the second best in the league – in 2018 and also turned a conference-leading 25 double plays.

"I think the biggest thing all around is that we have versatility and options from our roster," Hope Creasy began. "Not just options of people who can hit, but people who can play on the defensive end as well."

The Highlanders have a sophomore in Talia Douglas holding down the hot corner this season. Douglas returns as the Highlanders leading offensive weapon after hitting .318 as a freshman with 11 doubles, six home runs and 39 RBIs.

"We've got some consistency at third with Talia," Creasy said. "She's done a good job offensively and defensively in practice."

Hunter Mundy, who has primarily played each corner of the infield in her first two seasons gets geared up for her third go-round. She brings in the most experience at first base after playing most of the games there last season. Mundy led the team with 10 long balls last season and has 17 total in her career.

"Hunter's bat is going to be key this year," Creasy added. "I'm looking for that to be a big turnaround for her this year. She's been hitting the ball well in preseason, so I think she's in a good place with her bat and will come out ready to go."

It'll be a new look middle infield with the loss of Marissa Gagliano and Hannah Medlam moving to the outfield.

"The middle infield will have some different faces for us," Creasy mentioned. "As of right now the frontrunners are Sienna Williams, Sydney Fisher and Destiny Freeman. I think the three of them will be able to get the job done at shortstop and second base."

Williams is the only returning player in the trio. Last season she saw 19 games – primarily as a pinch runner – and started five. Fisher competed last season at Georgia Southern making 27 starts and 29 appearances. She batted .294 with three doubles and two home runs. Freeman is the lone freshman of the group.

Out of all the position groups, the outfield is the most stable in the way of returning starters. Lauren Maddrey, who held down the center field spot for all 55 games of 2018 returns for her junior season. As does Sofia Tapia, who batted over .300 last season and added 52 hits (17 of the extra base variety) as a sophomore. Medlam, who is geared up for her final year as a Highlander, closes out the bunch. She picked up 14 multiple hit games last season and batted .343 against Big South opponents.

"The designated player spot will be key for us this season," Creasy said. "That's one place that we didn't have a whole lot of depth at last year. We had bodies, but this season we'll have a lot more options to rotate in and out and find the hot bat."

"Putting all these things together, we have a lot of options and that's a good thing., Creasy closed. "The difficulty of making a lineup to have the best one out there is a good problem to have. I like consistency, but we have a lot of depth this season and we will utilize that the best we can."

The Highlanders will begin their 2019 campaign on Friday at the UNCW Softball Invitational. First up is the host UNCW at 3 p.m., followed by Rhode Island at 5 p.m.

FOLLOW SOFTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the Radford softball team follow @RadfordSoftball on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Softball on Facebook.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

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

#9 Lauren Maddrey: OF; 5' 7"; Junior; L/R

#24 Hannah Medlam: OF; 5' 6"; Senior; L/R

#3 Hunter Mundy: IF; 5' 5"; Junior; R/R

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

#1 Sienna Williams: IF/OF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

#5 Destiny Freeman: IF/OF; 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R

#7 Sydney Fisher: IF/OF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; L/R

Players Mentioned

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

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

#9 Lauren Maddrey
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#24 Hannah Medlam
: 5' 6"; Senior; L/R
: OF

#3 Hunter Mundy
: 5' 5"; Junior; R/R
: IF

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

#1 Sienna Williams
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF/OF

#5 Destiny Freeman
: 5' 7"; Freshman; R/R
: IF/OF

#7 Sydney Fisher
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; L/R
: IF/OF

Radford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned