Box Score
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ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop softball suffered its fourth straight loss after falling 6-4 to Radford in the opening game of the three-game series, Saturday evening at Terry Field.

The Eagles fall to 16-17 overall and 4-6 in the Big South while Radford is now 8-16 overall and 2-2 in the league.

The game got away from the Eagles in the fifth inning as Becky Mantel smacked an 0-2 pitch over the center field fence following a leadoff walk by pinch-hitter Kayla Bishton for a 5-3 lead. The Highlanders added another run on a soft single to center by Casey Burns that plated Jessie Hutchens, who walked two batters after the home run. The single by Burns could have made it 7-3 but Naomi Stevens nailed pinch-runner Ashley Harris at the plate to end the inning.

"They hit the ball when they had to and we didn't which sums up the game," said Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke. "We gave them some free bases and they drove them That home run was a bit demoralizing but give Mantel credit as she swung the bat well and hit it hard."

Radford pitching settled down after the first inning as it didn't allow a hit after the first inning until Megan Winningham led off the sixth with a single up the middle. That hit was followed with a McKenzi Corn single as the Eagles tried to rally. Corn ripped a shot to second base that took a funny hop and was smothered by Hayley Tabora but Corn reached and then Winningham moved to third as Tabora's late throw to first was low and got away from Casey Burns at first. Mel Andrea drove in Winningham from third with a grounder to short as Nia Chiles scooped up the ball and stepped on second for the force out. Alex White followed with a single through the right side before Rachael Walters relieved starter Abby Morrow. Walters then struck out Maddie Antone and popped Kelsey Ritter up to end the inning.

Winthrop fell behind in the top of the first as Mantel scored on a wild pitch and Chiles scored on a sacrifice bunt.

The Eagles answered right back as Winningham singled with one out and that was followed by a double to center by Corn. Andrea hit a high chopper that was fielded by Burns, who made a move to throw home but pulled back and it was too late to get Andrea at first. White followed with a single through the right side that scored Corn and then the Eagles took the lead on an error as Hutchens throw from home plate got past third base and Corn crossed the plate standing up.

Walters earned the save for the Highlanders as she tossed 1.2 innings of relief allowing no hits and issuing a one-out walk in the seventh. Morrow earned the win for Radford as she allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits with no walks and four strikeouts in 5.1 innings to improve to 3-4 on the year.

Allen allowed six runs (three earned) on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts as she falls to 7-8 on the year. Dallas King pitched 2.2 innings of relief allowing three hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Antone finished the game 0-for-3 as her hitting streak came to an end at nine games and streak of reaching base halted at 13 games. White, Winningham and Corn accounted for all the Eagles hits with two apiece.

Winthrop, which has lost 14 of the last 15 meetings against Radford, will be back in action on Sunday with a doubleheader against the Highlanders beginning at noon.