FARMVILLE, Va. – The Presbyterian Blue Hose (35-14) behind two home runs from Lath Freeman and a strong pitching performance from Morgan Hess shutout the Radford Highlanders (19-29), 3-0, to fend off elimination in the Big South Conference Championship on Wednesday.

Presbyterian dropped its opening game with a 3-1 loss to the Charleston Southern Buccaneers (27-26) before defeating Radford to advance to day two of the conference tournament.
   
RADFORD GAME
Presbyterian put their first two runs on the board when Freeman blasted a two-run home run over the left field wall in the third inning. Freeman connected on her second home run with a solo shot over the center field wall in the sixth inning.

Hess only allowed one hit with 11 strikeouts over seven shutout innings to record her 15th win of the season. A big point in the game came in the top of the sixth inning when Radford loaded the bases with two outs but Radford's Hannah Morris grounded out to Hess to end the Highlanders' threat.

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN GAME
The Buccaneers scored three runs on two hits in the third inning to take an early 3-0 lead. The Blue Hose cut Charleston Southern's lead to 3-1 when Hess walked with the bases loaded scoring Kaitlyn Tucker. However, the Blue Hose were not able to get any closer to Charleston Southern.

NOTABLES

• With her 15th win, Hess moved into a tie with Kensley Loudermelk (2015) for the third-most wins in a season in Presbyterian's Division I era.
• Freeman's two home runs give her eight home runs on the season.
• Jenna Greene recorded seven strikeouts against Charleston Southern giving her 198 strikeouts on the season.
• In the two games, Freeman led the Blue Hose with three hits. Hess, Tucker, and Layna Johnson each recorded two hits.

UP NEXT
Presbyterian continues play in the Big South Conference Tournament at 4 p.m on Thursday, May 12.