Softball 3/28/2012 6:58:00 PM

SOFTBALL SWEEPS LIBERTY AND EXTENDS WINNING STREAK TO EIGHT

BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2
Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

RADFORD, Va. – Senior Nichole Beall stole home in the 10^th inning of game two as Radford extended its winning streak to eight games with a doubleheader sweep over Liberty in Big South Softball action, Wednesday afternoon from RU Softball Field.

The Highlanders (16-8, 3-0 Big South) used a seven-run second in game one and aggressive base running in game two to defeat the Lady Flames (9-17, 3-3) by the scores of 9-1 and 4-3. The victories extended Radford's home winning streak to 16 games.

With no outs, runners on second and third and a 3-1 count, Michelle Beall squared for a squeeze. Nichole Beall took off and after a throw to third, she just beat the throw back home to win the game.

The teams had ample opportunity to take the lead and win game two before the 10^th, which included bases loaded threats by both squads in the seventh. The Highlanders got a strikeout to end to the top half and the Lady Flames induced a 1-2-3 double play that sent the game to extras.

Junior Jackie Jenkins earned the win with five frames of shutout relief. Jenkins (6-2) allowed just two hits walked one and struck out two.

Freshman Jackie Warr continued her hot bat against Liberty with a 3-for-3 performance. In the three games against the Lady Flames, Warr was 7-for-9 with four runs and an RBI.

Alyssa DiMartino went the distance in a loss for Liberty. She scattered seven hits, struck out one and walked six (one intentional). Six different Lady Flames recorded a hit.

A two-out, two-run single in the first by Meredith Crisante gave Liberty to early lead for the second straight game.

Nichole Beall got one back in the bottom half of the first, lacing the first pitch over the leftfield fence, cutting the lead to 2-1. It was her team-leading sixth of the season.

Senior Vicki Madden gave Radford the lead in the fourth, roping a two-run, two-out double just inside the bag at third. The play was set up when Warr kept the inning alive by dropping in a single to right center that moved pinch runner Frankie Martinez to third.

A RBI groundout by Kaylee West evened the game up at 3-apiece in the sixth. The teams would not score until the wild 10th.

Freshman Emily Norton started and went five-plus in the start for the Highlanders. She allowed four hits, struck out six and walked a pair.

In game one, Jill Stephens gave Liberty an early 1-0 advantage with a leadoff home run to center, but Radford countered with two in the first and seven in the seventh to earn the 9-1, five-inning triumph.

After the Stephens' long ball, the Highlanders countered with two runs in the bottom of the first on RBI singles by Michelle Beall and junior Ryndee Ruch. Beall plated her sister Nichole, who led the frame off with a double, and she would then come around when Ruch beat out a grounder to the backhand side of the shortstop.

The seven runs surpassed Radford's season-high total in a single game. The Highlanders had scored six runs four times this season.

Six of the seven runs came with two outs, as they sent 11 batters to the plate in the second. Madden who led off the frame with a single, also knocked in a run with a RBI single in her second at bat.

After an illegal pitch plated the first run, sophomore Jessie Hutchens started the six-run two-out rally with a two-run single. Ruch, Warr and Madden recorded RBI singles, while Ruch and Warr executed a double steal to plate the other run.

Stephanie Dameron earned the win with three innings of shutout relief. Dameron (5-0) surrendered two hits and struck out one.

Ruch and Madden each recorded two of Radford's nine hits. Ruch and Hutchens knocked in two apiece, while Nichole and Michelle Beall each scored a pair of runs.

Chandler Ball suffered the defeat for the Lady Flames in 1.2 innings of work. She allowed seven run on six hits with three strikeouts and two free passes. DiMartino finished the final 2.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits.

Radford will head to Buies Creek, N.C. for a three-game league series at Campbell with a doubleheader on Friday starting at 4 p.m and a single game on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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