Highlanders Fall in Pair of Close Battles in First Day at The Spring Games

BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 LEESBURG, Fla. –The Radford softball program fell in a pair of hard-fought games Friday night in the first day of The Spring Games. Radford fell to (RV) Liberty 3-2 and to Cleveland State 7-1.

GAME ONE
Kicking off the Kevin Fagan era at Radford, the Highlanders faced a solid opponent in Liberty who entered the weekend receiving votes in multiple major national polls. Right away in the opening frame, Radford would get its first scoring opportunity.

Amanda Lee would draw a walk while Rachel Smith singled. The duo executed a double steal but would be left stranded with two outs in the inning. Morgan Cooper earned the start in the circle for Radford and dialed up an efficient 1-2-3 start in her first frame.

After both teams were held scoreless in the second and third innings, Radford would strike first in the fourth. With two runners in scoring position and two out, Abby Bossler had the big hit for Radford with a single to center that scored Isabel Harrison and Rachel Smith.

Now up 2-0, Radford would get another scoreless frame from Cooper to hold the lead into the fifth. The Flames would tack on an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth, but Cooper responded with another quiet frame in the sixth.

The Highlanders were unable to add any insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Liberty strung together multiple hits and was able to score twice to end the game in walk-off fashion 3-2.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to action tomorrow for another pair of matchups at the Spring Games. Action begins at 1 p.m. against Middle Tennessee before turning around to face Louisville at 3:30 p.m.

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For more information on the Radford softball team, follow @RadfordSoftball on Twitter and Instagram or Radford Softball on Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Abby Bossler: IF; 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R

#1 Morgan Cooper: RHP; 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R

#12 Amanda Lee: IF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

#6 Rachel Smith: IF/OF; 5' 7"; Senior; R/R

#24 Isabel Harrison: OF; 5' 7"; Junior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#8 Abby Bossler
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R
: IF

#1 Morgan Cooper
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R
: RHP

#12 Amanda Lee
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#6 Rachel Smith
: 5' 7"; Senior; R/R
: IF/OF

#24 Isabel Harrison
: 5' 7"; Junior; L/R
: OF