Louisiana-Lafayette Box
Kent State Box

COLUMBUS, Ga. – A pair of home runs and a defensive seventh keyed Radford to a split on opening day at the 2010 Leadoff Classic. Following an 8-0 loss to No. 18 Louisiana –Lafayette in their season-opener, the Highlanders edged Kent State, 3-2.

Against Kent State, Radford (1-1) took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh and held on as it threw out back-to-back runners at home on consecutive pitches to secure the victory.

After Kent State (1-6) put runners on the corners with no outs, the Golden Flashes attempted a double steal, but shortstop Kristen Shifflett (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) took the throw and rifled it right back to catcher Sarah Himan (Woodbridge, Va./Hylton), nailing Mary Holt at the dish.

On the very next pitch, Jessica Blanton singled sharply to right and Lauren Grimes tried to score from second, but senior Hope Creasy (Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg) gunned out her out preventing the tying run to score for the second time in two pitches.

Shifflett and sophomore Nichole Beall (Culpeper, Va./Culpeper County) hit solo home runs and went 2-for-3 at the plate. Shifflett also scored the game-winning run on a steal and an error in the top of the sixth.

Junior Chelsea Kelley (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) earned the win, tossing the first five innings of two-hit ball. She allowed a pair of runs and both of the hits in the first inning to go along with four strikeouts.

Junior Kellie Snooks (Alsip, Ill./Marist) picked up the save, closing out the final two frames.

After being held to just one hit for the first time in 95 contests, Shifflett blasted a leadoff home run in the top of the first giving the Highlanders the early 1-0 lead over the Golden Flashes.

Kent State responded in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run long ball to right by Beth Cinadr.

Beall tied the game in the third on a two-out solo home run to center field.

Radford retook the lead in the sixth. Following a double by Shifflett, she stole third and scored when the throw went into leftfield.

In the first game, a five-run third and a one-hit shutout by Brittany Cuevas paced No. 18 Louisiana-Lafayette (9-2) to an 8-0 six-inning win over Radford.

Cuevas struck out 10 and walked three, allowing just a first inning single. Taryn Broussard highlighted the five-run fifth with a grand slam and finished the game, 2-4 with five RBI. Christi Orgeron recorded a game-high three hits for the Rajin Cajuns.

The Ragin' Cajuns took advantage of a leadoff walk and hit batter to score the first run of the game in the top of the second. Following the free passes, Broussard ripped an RBI single up the middle for an early 1-0 lead.

ULL exploded for five runs in the third and added two more in the sixth to make the final 8-0.

Radford had opportunities to get on the board in the first and third innings, stranding five runners. In the first, Shifflett walked and Beall ripped a single up the middle. Shifflett advanced to third and Beall moved to second on the throw. However and failed squeeze and two strikeouts ended the threat.

In the third, the Highlanders loaded the bases on a pair of walks and an error with two outs, but another strikeout ended the inning.

Radford returns to action tomorrow, Feb. 27 taking on Illinois and Illinois State at 1:30 and 4:00 p.m.