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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
MorganCooper
Rob Simmons
5
Winner Radford RAD 14-16
0
Gardner-Webb GWU 15-14
Winner
Radford RAD
14-16
5
Final
0
Gardner-Webb GWU
15-14
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Radford RAD 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 5 9 1
Gardner-Webb GWU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

W: Cooper, Morgan (6-6) L: FRYE, H. (7-5)

2
Winner Radford RAD 15-16
1
Gardner-Webb GWU 15-15
Winner
Radford RAD
15-16
2
Final
1
Gardner-Webb GWU
15-15
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Radford RAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 7 0
Gardner-Webb GWU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 0

W: Redmon, Dakota (7-5) L: KYLE, K. (2-6)

Game Recap: Softball |

Timely Hitting Paves Way to Series Sweep for Softball at Gardner-Webb

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. –The Radford softball program used timely hitting Saturday afternoon to take both games of the doubleheader at Gardner-Webb and earn the weekend sweep.
 
KEY STATS
  • Gardner-Webb entered the weekend averaging over six runs per game at home (16 games played), the pitching duo of Morgan Cooper and Dakota Redmon combined for two runs given up over 22 innings.
  • The series victory is Radford's first on the road since the 2022 campaign, and their first road sweep since the 2021 season.
  • Rachel Smith accounted for five of Radford's seven runs scored on the day with three RBI and two runs scored.
  • The Highlanders patiently drew eight walks over the two games while only striking out twice.
 
GAME ONE
To begin the first game of the doubleheader it was once again Amanda Lee who opened the scoring for the Highlanders. This time Lee created the run with her legs, swiping home on a double steal to give Radford the early 1-0 lead.
 
The starting pitcher Cooper kicked off her impressive day with a scoreless bottom of the first. Radford added another run in the second as the team continued to string together hits. Abby Bossler began the inning with a single and moved to third after a fielder's choice and sacrifice bunt. Isabel Harrison earned the RBI with a sacrifice fly to put Radford ahead 2-0.
 
In the third, Radford would scratch across another single run for the third straight inning. The strike came right away as Rachel Smith continued her hot weekend with a home run to opposite field giving Radford the 3-0 advantage.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs would create their first scoring threat in the bottom half, but Cooper induced some weak contact to preserve the shutout. Both teams were held silent in the fourth, allowing Radford to tack on another run in the fifth. R. Smith followed up her earlier homer with a triple, eventually reaching home thanks to a sacrifice fly from Kelley Feigen.
 
Cooper continued to cruise through the fifth and sixth innings only allowing two hits through the first six innings. In the seventh, Grace Bechtol helped Radford add an insurance run legging out an infield single for the 5-0 lead. Cooper took care of the rest, retiring the side in the home half of the seventh, sealing the 5-0 win and weekend series in Radford's favor.
 
GAME TWO
Radford would roll into game three of the weekend with more first inning offense thanks to Lee and Harrison, but the Highlanders would strand two runners on to kick off the pitcher's duel. Redmon would be tasked with keeping the Runnin' Bulldogs quiet and would do just that from the start.
 
Both teams were held scoreless through the first two innings as Redmon allowed just one baserunner. In the third inning Gardner-Webb would put two on with one out, but Redmon quickly retired two straight to end the threat.
 
Redmon would continue to cruise with scoreless fourth and fifth innings as the offense looked to crack the zero off the scoreboard. In the sixth the Highlanders had a good shot as the first four Highlanders reached base, but a video replay would wipe one runner off the bases eventually ending with the bases being left loaded to end the frame.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Highlanders would come up clutch with two outs in the inning. Klara Van Beuge would ignite the rally with a single, replaced by Bechtol on the bases who moved to third after a bunt and groundout.
 
The hero of the weekend R. Smith continued to deliver as she roped a double to right field that bounced off the foul pole stopping her from taking even more bases on the big hit. Cassi Barbato would follow with a pivotal RBI hit that put Radford ahead 2-0 with three outs to get.
 
Gardner-Webb would not go away quietly, beginning the bottom of the inning with a double. Redmon would get a big strikeout, but another double tightened the lead to just 2-1. The freshman would settle in to pick up two massive outs and seal the victory and sweep for Radford in the 2-1 final.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return home for some midweek action this upcoming Tuesday, March 18th. Radford will host the reigning American champions Charlotte for a 4 p.m. first pitch streamed on ESPN+.
 
Follow Softball on Social Media
For more information on the Radford softball team, follow @RadfordSoftball on X and Instagram or Radford Softball on Facebook.
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