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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Mantel
8
Winner Gardner-Webb GWU 15-33
6
RADFORD RADFORD 12-37
Winner
Gardner-Webb GWU
15-33
8
Final
6
RADFORD RADFORD
12-37
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Gardner-Webb GWU 0 0 1 4 0 1 0 0 2 8 8 1
RADFORD RADFORD 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 6 7 3

W: DARNELL, S. (11-14) L: Brown, Tiffany (3-12)

Game Recap: Softball |

SOFTBALL’S RALLY FALLS SHORT IN NINTH INNING AGAINST GARDNER-WEBB

RADFORD, Va. ---- Radford rallied in the seventh frame with three runs to force extra innings, but could not hold off Gardner-Webb in the ninth, 8-6, ending the Highlanders 2015 campaign.
 
"We are proud of the fact that we fought to the last pitch today," said head coach Maggie White. "We appreciate the heart that our seniors showed and everything they gave to the program in their time here. We came into the tournament in a tough position, and we understand the significance of each conference series to set us up for success in the tournament."
 
Casey Burns and Megan Honaker led the Highlanders (12-37, 7-16 BSC) at the plate with two hits apiece. Burns cranked her third long ball of the season in the first inning and finished the day with three RBI. Honaker recorded the first triple of her career in the effort. Kayla Bishton's lone hit couldn't have been bigger, scoring two runs on a double in the seventh to force extra innings.
 
Kelsey Weddle started with the ball in the circle, pitching five innings and facing 26 batters. Weddle gave up five hits and one earned run. Four of the five runs that came across with the senior hurler on the field were unearned.  Tiffany Brown started the sixth inning as relief and closed out the game with four innings of work. Brown struck out four and gave up three runs on three hits.
 
After both teams went scoreless in the eighth, the Runnin' Bulldogs (15-33, 7-18 BSC) broke the tie with a two-run homer over centerfield in the top of the ninth.
 
The Red and White opened the game's scoring in the bottom of the first with Burns' third home run of the season. Becky Mantel led the inning off with a walk and stole second. Burns swung at the first pitch, clearing the wall in left-centerfield.
 
After two quick outs by the Highlanders' defense in the third, Megan Gibbons laced a doubled down the left side to keep the top of the side alive for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Scarlett Harris would score Gibbons with a single hit into left-centerfield.
 
Gardner-Webb took its first lead of the game after loading the bases with one out in the fourth. A walk led off the side before an error at second put two on the base path. Kellie Beres hit into a fielder's choice to score a runner after Taylar Pridgen loaded the bases on a bunt hit to third. A double by Gibbons scored two more for the Runnin' Bulldogs, giving them a 4-2 edge. Harris followed with an RBI single of her own to centerfield for a fourth tally of the frame.
 
Weddle made quick work of Gardner-Webb in the fifth to bring Honaker to the dish. Honaker led off with a triple blasted into left field for the first three-base hit of her career. A pop up by Maggie Rowe gave the speedy Honaker time to come in and score, cutting into the deficit, 5-3.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered in the sixth with one run. Beres singled up the middle with one out, bringing Gibbons to the plate. Gibbons notched her second extra base hit of the outing to score the runner and put Gardner-Webb ahead 6-3.
 
Radford rallied in the seventh started by a leadoff single down the left side by Honaker. Burns put two on with one out for Rowe after looking at ball four. The Highlanders loaded the base path after an ensuing walk by Rowe. A groundout by Blackwell scored the lead runner, bringing Radford within two. Bishton's first hit of the contest, a double to left-centerfield, scored two runs and sent the game to the eighth.
 
With a loss in this morning's opening game of the Big South Tournament, Radford's season comes to a close.
 
For the latest news on the Radford softball team, follow the Highlanders on Twitter at @RadfordSoftball. To keep up with all Radford athletics, follow @RU_Athletics on Twitter.
 
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