Game One l Game Two

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Radford earned its first victory over North Carolina, 5-4, in game one and split a twinbill Wednesday afternoon from Anderson Stadium. The Tar Heels took game two, 3-1.

A successful safety squeeze by Shannon Keefe in the top of the eighth capped off a late Highlander (32-14) comeback in the game one victory.

In the eighth,Nichole Beall, who was placed on second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Himan and slid home safely when Keefe dropped down her bunt on a 2-1 count.

Radford had to hold on in the bottom half of the inning. The Tar Heels (39-18) loaded the bases, but Kelley induced a soft liner to second for the final out of the game. UNC stranded 12 runners in the contest.

Kelley picked up her 20th win of the season. After allowing four runs, two earned, in 4.1 innings, Kelley reentered with a runner on and no outs in the seventh and shut out the Tar Heels over the final two innings. With the victory, she becomes the third Highlander to post multiple 20-win seasons

Lauren Williams came up big in both the top and bottom half of the seventh keying the rally and then preventing the Tar Heels from winning.

A hit batter with one out and three straight singles, the third by Williams, knotted the contest at 4-4. With the bases still juiced, a fielder's choice and a strike out prevented Radford from retaking the lead.

The Tar Heels threatened in the bottom half of the frame. With two outs and Chelsea Butler pinch running for Danielle Spaulding at second base, Ally Blake dumped a single into left. Williams came up with a strong throw to Himan and nailed Blake, who did not slide, in a bang-bang play at the plate.

Himan provided Radford with an early 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run long ball to left. It was the 10th of the season for Himan as she became the fourth Highlander to reach double figure round trippers this season.

A two-out dropped fly ball in the third allowed a pair of Tar Heels to score and tie the ball game at 2-2.

Radford retook the lead in the fifth on a leadoff home run to left by Michelle Beall.

The Tar Heels took their first lead of the game (4-3) with two runs in the bottom half of the frame. An RBI single by Kelli Wheeler tied the contest. After a pitching change, pinch runner Elisha Elliot scored the go-ahead run on a foul out to leftfield.

Michelle Beall was 2-for-3 and her sister Nichole recorded a double and scored two runs. Kellie Snooks provided 1.2 innings of shutout relief before Kelley reentered.

Amber Johnson suffered the loss in an inning of work. She finished with one strikeout. Danielle Spaulding started for UNC and went the first seven frames. She allowed four runs on six hits with 11 strikeouts and one walk.

Johnson returned in game two and stymied the Highlander bats. She allowed just two hits, both to Nichole Beall, and struck out 13.

Each team tallied a run in the first inning. A leadoff blast to right centerfield by Nichole Beall, her team leading 15th, gave Radford a 1-0 lead in the first.

Christine Knauer led off the bottom half with a triple to center and scored on Anna Robert's single to left.

Knauer led off the third with a single, stole second and moved to third on a ground out. Spaulding fisted the ball into the right field for the eventual game-winning hit.

Stephanie Murad added an insurance run with a solo homerun in the sixth.

Jackie Jenkins suffered the defeat in a strong relief performance. She surrendered two runs and scattered seven hits after entering with no outs and a runner on first in the first inning.

Radford will take a break and hit the books for finals before returning to action on Friday, May 7 for a doubleheader at Appalachian State. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.