Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
team
2
Radford RAD 35-18
4
Winner Liberty LIBERTY 46-12
Radford RAD
35-18
2
Final
4
Liberty LIBERTY
46-12
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Radford RAD 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 5 0
Liberty LIBERTY 0 0 0 0 3 1 X 4 5 0

W: DIMARTINO, Julia (26-7) L: Huffman, Kayla (11-5)

3
Winner Radford RAD 36-18
2
Longwood LWU 38-16
Winner
Radford RAD
36-18
3
Final
2
Longwood LWU
38-16
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 R H E
Radford RAD 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 9 3
Longwood LWU 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 3

W: Morrow, Abby (23-11) L: GAY, S. (25-11)

Game Recap: Softball |

RADFORD SPLITS ON FRIDAY; FACES LIBERTY IN BIG SOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL



RADFORD, Va. – A three hour rain delay and 19 straight innings is what stood in front of the Radford softball team and a date in the Big South Championship final, but they will play for a title on Saturday at noon. The Highlanders fell to Liberty, 4-2, in the winner's bracket finale in game one of the day, but took care of business against Longwood, 3-2 in a 12-inning elimination game.
 
The win over Longwood in the nightcap gave Radford a spot in the championship game on Saturday at noon. However, since the Highlanders already have one loss in the tournament they will need to beat the Flames twice in order to receive a berth to the NCAA Regionals.
 
GAME ONE
  • Score: No. 1 Liberty 4 | No. 3 Radford 2
  • Records: Lancers (46-12) | Highlanders (35-18)
  • Location: Radford SB Stadium | Radford, Va.
 
The Highlanders took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Maggie Rowe scored from third on a Brianna Mills groundout. Rowe reached with one out in the inning with a single through the left side.
 
The momentum grew even more in the next inning when Marissa Gagliano tattooed a ball over the trees in right field that gave Radford a 2-0 lead. However, that momentum quickly went away as the game was called midway through the bottom of the third inning for inclement weather in the area.
 
After a 3:13 rain delay, the Highlanders were back at it. Kayla Huffman, who had not allowed a hit got out of the inning unscathed leaving the tying run on base. Neither team could do damage as the delay did not affect either pitcher.
 
Huffman got into a jam once more in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn't get out of it as one swing of the bat from Autumn Bishop gave Liberty a 3-2 lead. Bishop plated pinch runner Cassie Gingerich and center fielder Jasmeen Click with a three run home run to right field.
 
The Highlanders were poised to make a comeback and almost did with two runners in scoring position and one out in the sixth, but a foul out to third base and strikeout ended the threat.
 
Kaitlin McFarland gave the Flames an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with her fourth home run of the year. The solo shot gave Liberty a 4-2 lead that the Highlanders couldn't overcome.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Julia DiMartino (26-7) | (4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K)
  • Loss: Kayla Huffman (11-5) | (6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K)
  • Gagliano's blast was her third of the season, which is the most of any year she has been at Radford.
  • Talia Douglas had another multi-hit game and was the only Highlander with a 2-for-3 game.
  • Mills plated the other Highlander run, which came in the second inning.
  • All five of Liberty's hits were of the extra base variety. The Flames tallied three doubles and two home runs.
  • Hannah Medlam and Maggie Rowe had the other Radford hits.
 
GAME TWO
  • Score: No. 3 Radford 3, No. 2 Longwood 2
  • Records: Highlanders (36-18) | Lancers (38-16)
  • Location: Radford SB Stadium | Radford, Va.

In a game that set a record for the most innings in a Big South Championship game, the Highlanders only needed three runs as Abby Morrow set a record with the most innings pitched in a game while at Radford.
 
Sofia Tapia was the star of the show offensively with a 3-for-5 game at the dish. Her most important hit came on a bunt single in the top of the 12th inning with the game tied at two. She moved to third on a throwing error by the Longwood third baseman on the same play.
 
Already with one walk-off single in the tournament, Douglas drove came through once again with a double to straightaway center. The double scored Tapia and gave Radford a 3-2 lead.
 
Tapia led off the game with a triple – and was only one hit away from the cycle – and later scored on a Talia Douglas groundout. The run gave Radford a 1-0 lead through a half inning.
 
The Lancers came back with two runs when Destiny Martinez cut the lead in half with a triple that scored Krista Kelly, who reached with a single. The Lancers took a 2-1 lead when Martinez scored from third on a Highlander throwing error.
 
Radford tied the game when Gagliano doubled to right center field in the top of the fifth. Gagliano's double allowed Lauren Maddrey to hustle home from second base and score the tying run. Radford wanted more, but left the bases loaded.
 
Morrow suffered eight hits, but only allowed two runs to score – one earned – and received some great defensive plays en route to her 23rd victory of the season, which ties her for fifth in a single-season at Radford.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Win: Abby Morrow (23-11) | (12.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K)
  • Loss: Sydney Gay (25-11) | (4.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K)
  • Tapia was one hit away from the cycle. She finished with a 3-for-5 day and a run scored.
  • Morrow pitched 12 innings and earned her 65th career complete game, which ties her for third in the record books.
  • Douglas came up clutch, driving in two of Radford's three runs.
  • Tapia was the only Highlander with a multi-hit game as six different players had at least one hit each.
  • With the win, Radford now has a two-game winning streak over Longwood.
  • It's the Highlanders first championships game appearance since 2011.
  • Last season a No. 3 seeded Longwood won the entire tournament, but that team is out of the 2018 Big South Championship
  • The 12 inning contest was the most innings played in a Big South Championship game since 2001 and set a new record.
 
ON DECK
The Highlanders will need two wins against the regular season champs, Liberty, to earn the automatic qualifying spot in the NCAA Regionals. If the Highlanders win the first game, which is set for noon, they will play a winner-take-all game against Liberty at approximately 2:30 p.m.
 
For the latest on Radford Athletics, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Highlander Happenings.
 
Print Friendly Version