GAME ONE BOX | GAME TWO BOX
RADFORD, Va. – Radford picked up a pair of wins as it swept in-state foe Virginia by the scores of 1-0 and 5-1, Wednesday from RU Softball Field.
A first-inning run and a strong outing from
Chelsea Kelley keyed the Highlanders (33-15) in a 1-0 game-one victory. It was Radford's fourth consecutive shutout, on shy of the school record.
In the nightcap,
Nichole Beall was 3-for-4 and four other Highlanders recorded two hits as Radford earned a sweep of the Cavaliers (21-27) with a 5-1 triumph.
The opener saw Kelley (W, 5-6) surrender five hits over 5.2 innings with two strikeouts and a walk.
Kellie Snooks came in with runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth and retired four straight for her third save.
Radford put runners on second and third with one out in the first.
Shannon Keefe would drop down a perfect two-strike bunt that pushed across
Kristen Shifflett with the lone run of the contest.
Melanie Mitchell (L, 14-15) suffered the tough defeat as she went the distance for the Wahoos. She allowed a run on seven hits with eight strikeouts and one free pass.
Shifflett, who opened the inning with a single to right, extended her hitting streak to 15 games. The Highlanders did strand two more runners as Mitchell struck out the final two of the frame.
Radford threatened in the third, but
Nichole Beall was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the inning by centerfielder Giannina Cipolloni trying to score from second on Keefe's single.
Virginia had its best chance in the sixth when it put runners on second and third with two outs, but Snooks came in and slammed the door getting a shallow fly ball to right.
In game two, Radford erased a 1-0 deficit with three unaswered runs during the second, third and fourth frames and closed Virginia off with two more in the sixth.
Beall recorded a double and scored a run, while
Taylor Cunningham was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.
Stephanie Dameron picked up the win (13-4) in 3.1 innings of shutout relief. The freshmen righty surrendered three hits and got out of a 2nd and 3rd jam when she entered in the fourth.
Snooks started and went the first 3.2 innings, allowing a run on four hits with three strikeouts.
The Cavaliers answered in the top of the first of game two on a two-out solo home run by Erica Cipolloni. The run snapped a 28.2-inning scoreless streak by the Radford pitching staff.
Despite the run, Radford's pitching staff has allowed just one run over the last 35 innings.
The Highlanders answered with two outs in the second when a run-scoring bloop single center by
Lauren Williams dropped in after the centerfielder and second baseman collided.
Radford took the lead for good (2-1) in the third when
Michelle Beall was hit with the bases juiced.
A two-out error and a double steal led another run in the fourth. After Shifflett reached on an error,
Nichole Beall singled to left. After they executed a double steal, Cunningham laced a RBI single to left.
With five stolen bases today, Radford surpassed the century mark (104) for the fourth time in five seasons.
Radford added two insurance runs in the sixth on solo home runs by Shifflett and Cunningham. Shifflett's long ball in her final at bat, extended her hitting streak to 16 games, second longest in program history.
March Bowdren was 3-for-3 with a double for Virginia. Stephanie Coates (2-4) suffered the complete game loss.
The Highlanders conclude their suspended home game with Liberty tomorrow night at 6 p.m. The contest is tied at 3-3 with one out in the top of the eighth.