Softball Sweeps Maryland Eastern Shore

Game one box
Game two box

Radford, Va. - In game two, a 13-run first inning propelled Radford to a 20-0 shutout and a sweep of University of Maryland Eastern Shore this afternoon in softball action. The Highlanders improved to 4-10 with 8-1 and 20-0 victories, while the Lady Hawks fall to 0-2.

Sending 17 batters to the plate in the first inning, the Highlanders produced 13 runs on seven hits and four Lady Hawk errors. The big blow was a bases loaded triple from Ashleigh Brooks (Virginia Beach, Va.) who finished the day 2 for 4 with three RBI and three runs scored. RU would put two across in the third on an RBI single by Amber Drexel (Knoxville, Tenn.) and a sac fly by Hallie East (Roanoke, Va.).

They hit the 20-run plateau for the second time this week by putting five across on seven hits in the fifth. After three consecutive singles produced one run, RU would score on a ground out and then Drexel knocked in two with a double. She would come in on a Stephanie Adams (Pasadena, Md.) single with two out to round out the scoring.

Drexel finished the game going 2 for 2 with five rbi, while Adams and Donita Brady (Virginia Beach, Va.) each went 3 for 4. Drexel's five rbi ties the school record, which she had already done earlier in the week against N.C. A&T. Along with Brooks, Payton Nash (Woodbridge, Va.), Ashley Smith (Roanoke, Va.) and Deana Benner (Glen Burnie, Md.) each had a pair of hits. Nash and Smith each scored four runs. Teresa Brewer (Woodbridge, Va.) picked up the complete game one-hit shutout, striking out seven and walking one.

With Benner on the mound in game one, she struck out 14 and Smith went 2 for 3 with a double, triple, two rbi and three run scored to lead RU to the win. Benner finished the game giving up a run on three hits and did not walk a batter.

The Highlanders took advantage of UMES miscues the entire game (six errors), scoring their first run without a hit. They would combine some key hits with some errors to put across eight over the next four innings and cruise to the win. Marlee Johnson took the loss for the Lady Hawks, giving up eight runs, only three earned on seven hits, striking out two and walking four. Lesley Aikenhead provided the UMES offense, going 2 for 3 with a triple and a run scored.

The Highlanders travel to Charlotte, N.C. next weekend for a tournament at Charlotte. They will open up with Stony Brook and Tulsa on March 8 at 9 and 11 a.m.