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SoftballSeniorDay2024
0
ETSU ETSU 10-30
4
Winner Radford RAD 21-22
ETSU ETSU
10-30
0
Final
4
Radford RAD
21-22
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
ETSU ETSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Radford RAD 0 0 0 1 2 1 X 4 6 0

W: Palya, Ellen (3-0) L: Sara Muir (5-5)

2
ETSU ETSU 10-31
4
Winner Radford RAD 22-22
ETSU ETSU
10-31
2
Final
4
Radford RAD
22-22
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
ETSU ETSU 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 5 0
Radford RAD 1 0 0 0 0 3 X 4 4 1

W: Peace, Abby (4-7) L: Kendall Thackston (1-5)

Game Recap: Softball |

Seniors Pave Way to Senior Day Sweep of ETSU

RADFORD, Va. –The Radford softball program celebrated their Senior Day Tuesday afternoon with a doubleheader sweep over ETSU with big moments particularly from the seniors with a 4-0 win in game one and a 4-2 win in game two.
 
Game 1
Game one's action was led by senior Ellen Palya who would get the starting nod in the circle and dominate her Buccaneer opponents. Palya set the tone early, setting down three in order thanks to a double play in the top of the first.

After the offense went scoreless in the bottom of the first, Palya responded in kind with another clean inning with two strikeouts in the second. With two runners on and two out in the third, Palya didn't budge as she got the third out to escape any trouble and keep it a 0-0 game.

In the fourth, ETSU got two more baserunners with a walk and a single. With only one out, Palya showed no backing down once again retiring two straight to keep things tied. In the fourth, her offense finally broke through for the lead.

The advantage came thanks to Rachel Smith who muscled an opposite-field home rune for the 1-0 lead. The homer was her eighth of the season, a career-high and at the time a team-high for the season.

Now up 1-0, Palya would toss another scoreless fifth in her first action of the day with a lead. The offense would pad the lead in the bottom half. Emma Yates got things started with a single while Abby Wilson also singled to put two on. With two outs, Kari Shedrick popped one up to left that was misplayed allowing Yates and Wilson to score and make it a 3-0 Radford lead.

A one-two-three sixth inning allowed Palya to keep cruising and in the bottom of the inning Radford added one more. Again with two outs, Emily Smith struck a solo homer that gave Radford a 4-0 lead.

No troubles faced Palya in the seventh as she was able to close out the shutout on her senior day in the 4-0 victory. The shutout was the second of Palya's career with her last coming on Feb. 25, 2023, in an eight-inning victory over Saint Francis (PA).
 
Game 2
For Radford's second game of the day, the memorable moments kept coming in another close win for the Highlanders. Natalie Jones got the start and after two straight walks Jones forced a double play and ground out to escape the inning without giving up a run.

In the bottom of the first, Radford didn't have to wait long for its first run in this game. Wilson hit a strong homer to left for the 1-0 lead, also her eighth homer of the year which ties with R. Smith for the team lead.

After a scoreless second, ETSU got their first run of the day with two outs in the third to tie the game at one-all. In the fourth, the Buccaneers put runners on second and third with none out forcing a pitching change as Abby Peace would come in to try and escape the jam. Peace worked through the jam allowing just one run ending the inning with a big strikeout.

Radford's offense would be held relatively quiet for the middle of the game, but Abby Peace made sure things stayed at just a 2-1 deficit. Peace allowed just two base runners in the fifth and sixth to allow Radford to rally in the sixth.

Wilson led off the inning with a walk and after a single by Shedrick the duo both stood in scoring position with none out. Two straight outs threatened to end the inning, but Tori Boyd worked a big walk to load the bases. Cassi Barbato delivered putting the ball in the perfect spot in the infield allowing Wilson to score and tie the game.

Still wanting more, Taylor Breidt stepped up to the plate and delivered for a big moment on her senior day. With bases still loaded and two out, Breidt struck a hard hit single up the middle that scored two runners and gave Radford the 4-2 lead. It was all the Highlanders would need as Peace shut the door in the seventh for the doubleheader sweep.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders have the next week of action off before closing out the regular season with one more weekend series. Starting Friday, May 3rd, Radford hosts Presbyterian for a 4 p.m. first pitch on ESPN+.
 
Follow Softball on Social Media
For more information on the Radford softball team, follow @RadfordSoftball on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Softball on Facebook.
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