SOFTBALL EDGED BY VIRGINIA TECH IN EIGHT INNINGS, 2-1

BOX SCORE BLACKSBURG, Va. – Radford out hit Virginia Tech, 8-7 and held a 1-0 lead into the sixth, but RBI singles by Bailey Liddle in the sixth and eighth innings lifted the Hokies (28-15) to a 2-1 win over the Highlanders on Wednesday afternoon from Tech Softball Park.

Freshman Rachael Walters and Virginia Tech's Jasmin Harrell were locked in a pitcher's dual throughout. Walters, who suffered the loss, scattered seven hits, struck out five and allowed one earned run. Harrell struck out six and allowed eight hits. Both pitchers walked two.

"Rachael pitched extremely well and kept us in a position to win, which is what we ask of our pitchers," stated head coach Maggie Johnson.

Radford (16-30) put two on in the eighth, but could not get the clutch two-out hit. Virginia followed by loading the bases on a double, walk and two-strike hit-by-pitch. Liddle stepped up and poked the ball off the end of her bat into shall leftcenter for the game winner.

"Before the game, we discussed the importance of battling every single pitch, every single opportunity," Johnson said. "We definitely stepped up our focus and made better adjustments, but couldn't push runs across."

In a contest that was a complete turn around from the evening before (8-1 loss and four hits), freshman Becky Mantel and junior Jessie Hutchens each went 2-for-4. Mantel had four hits in the two game against the Hokies. Freshman Casey Burns provided the lone run with her second home run of the season.

Liddle paced the Hokies for the second straight night with a 2-for-4 two RBI effort.

It was the first extra inning affair in the series since March 1, 2006 when the Hokies topped the Highlanders, 3-2 in nine innings at TSP.

Burns gave Radford a 1-0 lead in the fourth with a one-out home run to centerfield. The ball was caught by Lauren Gaskill on an outstanding play, but when her wrist made contact with the fence the ball popped out and over.

The Hokies evened the score with a two-out unearned run in the sixth. With one out, Courtney Liddle reached on a bunt single and moved to second on a throwing error by Walters. Bailey Liddle stroked a first pitch game-tying RBI single into right.

Each team had ample opportunities to score, but RU stranded seven and the Hokies nine (six through seven).

"We will take with us what we learned and accomplished today as we head to Gardner-Webb this weekend," concluded Johnson.

Radford hits the road for its final Big South road series on April 27 and 28 at Gardner-Webb. Both days are scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start in Boiling Springs, N.C.

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