Lipscomb Box | Saint Louis Box

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Radford dropped a pair of close contests to Lipscomb and Saint Louis on day two of the Magic City Classic. The Highlanders fell 3-1 against the Bison and were shut out in the nightcap, 1-0 in eight innings by the Billikins.

In the first contest, the Bison (5-6) scored two runs in the top of the first courtesy of a two-out walk, followed by a two-run home run by Haley Elliot. That was all Whitney Kiihnl needed as she allowed four hits and struck out seven in a complete game victory.

The Highlanders (2-6) cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the first. Lauren Williams reached on a one-out error and immediately stole second. She would score on a Nichole Beal single.

Another two-out run in the top of the seventh gave Lipscomb a two-run cushion.

Radford would manage just one hit over the next five frames before getting back-to-back one-out singles in the bottom of the seventh. However, Shannon Keefe was gunned out trying to steal third and Kiihnl induced a fly ball to end the threat.

Chelsea Kelley went the distance for the Highlanders. She scattered five hits, struck out two and walked two.

The nightcap was a pitcher's dual between freshman Stephanie Dameron and SLU's Julian Austin.

The Billikins (8-4) pushed across the only run of the game in the eighth on Alyson Brand's sac fly.

The Highlanders had an opportunity to tie, but freshman Jessie Hutchens was thrown out at home trying to score by the second baseman after an error by the shortstop.

Dameron did not allow an earned run and struck out four. She surrendered five hits and did not walk a batter.

Austin held Radford's bats to four hits and struck out seven with one free pass.

Taylor Cunningham registered half of Radford's hits, including her third double of the season.

The Highlanders look to end on a high note tomorrow when they close out play with co-host Samford at 3 p.m.