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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Medlam
2
Liberty LIBERTY 30-12
3
Winner Radford RAD 22-13
Liberty LIBERTY
30-12
2
Final
3
Radford RAD
22-13
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Liberty LIBERTY 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 2
Radford RAD 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 12 2

W: Huffman, Kayla (7-3) L: ENGLER, Elizabeth (6-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

RADFORD WINS NINE INNING THRILLER WITH LIBERTY



GAME INFORMATION
  • Score: Radford 3, Liberty 2
  • Records: Highlanders (22-13, 6-4 Big South) | Flames (30-12, 10-3 Big South)
  • Location: Radford Softball Stadium | Radford, Va.
 
RADFORD, Va. – The Radford softball team scored three unanswered runs en route to a thrilling nine-inning 3-2 victory over league-leader Liberty in the series opener on Friday night at the Radford Softball Stadium.
 
It took nine innings, but the Highlanders scored the walk-off run when Hannah Medlam put a ball into play towards second base with the bases loaded. Charging in, Amber Bishop, corralled the ground ball and made the throw towards home plate trying to beat Marissa Gagliano.
 
The throw went wide of the catcher, which allowed Gagliano – who lead off the inning with a single – to score the game-winning run for the 3-2 victory.
 
Once Gagliano led off the inning with the single, Sofia Tapia followed it up with a bloop single to left field. Talia Douglas, who was the next batter, was plunked on the arm by a fastball and loaded the bases for Medlam.
 
Liberty (30-12, 10-3 Big South) took an early 1-0 lead on four hits in the first inning. The second run of the game came in the second inning when the Flames scored on a bases loaded, check swing strikeout.
 
With a 3-2 count Sarah Robertson thought she saw ball four and trotted to first base as all the runners advanced. She was about five feet out of the batters box when the home plate umpire signaled strike three, but as he did Jasmeen Click was standing on home plate. Since it was a live ball, Click's run counted and gave Liberty a 2-0 lead. The runners moved up a base, but Abby Morrow was able to get a pop up for the final out of the frame.
 
Medlam gave Radford its first hit of the night with a double to right center field. After back-to-back strikeouts, Brianna Mills laid down a bunt in the perfect spot for an infield single. Hunter Mundy stepped in a delivered a shot down the right field line that plated Medlam and Mills and tied the game at two.
 
 Kayla Huffman's (7-3) name was called upon and the Big South Pitcher of the Week did not disappoint. She had three strikeouts and only three base runners through three innings.
 
The Flames threatened in the seventh with two on and one out, but Huffman earned a big-time 11 pitch strikeout and a foul out to Rowe behind the plate that ended the inning.
 
The Highlanders then got something cooking in the bottom of the seventh with the bases juiced and Rowe at the dish. She battled and bombed a 3-2 pitch to left field that seemed to be a no-doubter off the bat, but Taylor Hoffman caught the ball with her back against the wall that sent the game to extras.
 
Liberty had one more threat in the eighth inning, this time with two on and nobody out, but Huffman worked her magic once again. The junior was able to get three straight outs and leave the two runners on base. The Flames were able to only get one more runner aboard in the ninth inning, but she was left harmlessly on first base.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Kayla Huffman (7-3) | (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K)
  • Loss: Elizabeth Engler (6-2) | (0.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K)
  • Huffman was lights out on the mound and only allowed three hits and no runs. She struck out five and only allowed three walks.
  • Three different Highlanders had multi-hit games with Tapia leading the way. She set a career-high with three hits in a 3-for-5 night.
  • Gagliano, Medlam and Mundy each had two hits.
  • Mundy, with her 2-for-4 performance, tallied her fourth double of the season and her sixth multi-RBI game this year.
  • Gagliano, Medlam each contributed with a double and a run scored, while Mills scored the other run.
  • Gagliano pushed her reached base streak to 35 games.
  • Radford held the team that leads the Big South in doubles to none, as all of their eight hits were singles.
  • The two teams combined left 24 runners on base as Radford left 13, while Liberty left 11.
  • The victory gives Radford eight victories in their last nine outings.

QUOTABLE
"This was a big-time win and quite a way to get the series underway. Kayla pitched a gem in the circle and held a good hitting team like Liberty to only three hits. We left quite a few on base, but were able to get timely hits when we needed to. We celebrate the little things and will celebrate this one, but we know there is more work to be done in the doubleheader tomorrow." – Hope Creasy
 
ON DECK
Radford looks to go for the series win and sweep against the Flames all in one day on Saturday. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 2 p.m., with the second game to start at approximately 4 p.m.
 
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