CLEARWATER, Fla. – Hope Creasy (Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg) launched a pair of three-run home runs as Radford split at the USF Under Armour Showcase, Saturday afternoon from the Eddie C. Moore Sport Complex.

The Highlanders (6-8) defeated Middle Tennessee State (5-9), 5-2, but fell in their second contest, 5-3 to Central Michigan (5-6).

Creasy’s first three-run round tripper of the day, a fourth inning blast, broke open a 1-1 ball game and lifted Radford to a 5-2 victory over Middle Tennessee State.

The teams would trade runs in the first inning with junior Shannon Keefe (Lemont Township, Ill./Lemont) putting the Highlanders on the board with a RBI single.

Radford added another run in the fifth on a run-scoring single by Michelle Beall (Culpeper/Culpeper County).

MTSU cut the lead to 5-2 on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, but that would it for the Blue Raiders as Chelsea Kelley (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) retired the final batter of the sixth and after allowing a infield single she set down the final three batters of the contest to record the save.

Creasy finished 3-for-3 with three RBI. Keefe, Nichole Beall (Culpeper/Culpeper County) and Taylor Cunningham (Fairfax, Va./Robinson Secondary) all recorded two hits with Beall and Cunningham registering doubles.

In game two, Central Michigan scored five runs in first inning and held on for a 5-3 victory over Radford. Creasy hit her second three-run home run of the day, but it would not be enough to rally the Highlanders.

The Chippewas took advantage of three walks, two hit by pitches and an illegal pitch to muster those five runs. All three of CMU’s hits in the frame were RBI singles. The other two runs scored on the illegal pitch and a bases loaded hit batter.

Creasy cut the lead to 5-3 with a three-run long ball in the fourth.

That would all for the Highlanders as they fell to the Chippewas for the second time this season.

Senior Sarah Himan (Woodbridge, Va./Hylton)recorded two of the Highlanders’ seven hits.

Radford closes its spring break trip today at 9 am against Indiana.

Photo of Hope Creasy courtesy of RU Sports Information