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Radford University Athletics

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Casey Burns
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3
Pittsburgh UP 6-4
4
Winner Radford RADFORD 3-1
Pittsburgh UP
6-4
3
Final
4
Radford RADFORD
3-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Pittsburgh UP 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 6 2
Radford RADFORD 1 0 0 0 0 2 1 4 9 0

W: Morrow, Abby (3-1) L: Sarah Dawson (3-0)

Game Recap: Softball |

BURNS’ WALK-OFF HIT GIVES RADFORD THIRD STRAIGHT WIN


 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Casey Burns hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to lift Radford's softball team to a 4-3 victory over Pittsburgh Sunday morning and cap a successful season-opening weekend at the Dolphin Invitational.
 
After Pittsburgh scored twice on back-to-back home runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game, the Highlanders responded with a two-out rally started by a double from Summer Robinson. After Marissa Yow reached on an error, Burns singled to left field, bringing home Robinson with the winning run.

"This was another quality team win for us," head coach Aileen Morales said. "Our toughness was again tested and we rose to the challenge. Our solid defense made the difference for us, along with timely hitting."
 
Burns and Robinson each recorded two hits to lead Radford (3-1) offensively. Abby Morrow went the distance in the circle to claim her third victory of the weekend. She allowed six hits, struck out three and again didn't walk a batter. All three of the Panthers' runs came on solo home runs.
 
Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in first inning, but the Highlanders answered in the bottom of the frame. Marissa Gagliano led off with a single and stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Becky Mantel.
 
Morrow and Pittsburgh reliever Kayla Harris then shut down the opposing offenses for four straight innings – with Morrow retiring 11 straight batters at one point – before Radford took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Yow hit a one-out single, Burns walked and, after a forceout, Alex Lang drew another walk to load the bases. Nia Chiles followed with an RBI single to the right side, plating Burns and an error on the play allowed Whitney Davis to also come home.
 
The Highlanders finished the game with nine hits and totaled 29 in their three victories. Robinson and Gagliano had hits in all four games in the tournament, with Robinson going 7 for 15 and Gagliano right behind at 6 for 14. Five different RU players had multiple RBIs. Morrow allowed just eight hits in her last three appearances and recorded 15 strikeouts with just one walk in the four games.
 
Radford returns to action next weekend as it travels to Charleston, S.C. for the Cougar Classic. The Highlanders will take on UMass Lowell Friday at 5:30 p.m.
 
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