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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
DakotaRedmon
Rob Simmons
12
Winner USC Upstate UPST 27-8, 2-3 BSC
3
Radford RAD 17-18, 4-1 BSC
Winner
USC Upstate UPST
27-8, 2-3 BSC
12
Final
3
Radford RAD
17-18, 4-1 BSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
USC Upstate UPST 2 0 2 2 2 4 12 16 0
Radford RAD 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 3

W: MANESS, Sierra (13-4) L: Cooper, Morgan (6-8)

1
USC Upstate UPST 27-9, 2-4 BSC
3
Winner Radford RAD 18-18, 5-1 BSC
USC Upstate UPST
27-9, 2-4 BSC
1
Final
3
Radford RAD
18-18, 5-1 BSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
USC Upstate UPST 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 1
Radford RAD 1 0 0 0 2 0 X 3 5 2

W: Redmon, Dakota (10-5) L: KARDATZKE, Sophia (4-3)

Game Recap: Softball |

Redmon’s Gem Highlights Softball’s Historic Series Victory Against USC Upstate

RADFORD, Va. –The Radford softball program fell in the first game of their doubleheader with USC Upstate Saturday afternoon but got a masterful outing once again from Dakota Redmon to earn a historic series victory over the Spartans.
 
KEY STATS
  • In four conference appearances so far, Redmon has worked a 1.21 ERA while holding two of the top offensive teams in the conference to five runs over 29 innings.
  • Redmon forced 29 groundouts by the Spartans, containing the homerun-heavy offense to no long balls over 14 innings this weekend.
  • Grace Bechtol had a big day at the plate working three walks, scoring two runs and moved into a new position at third base committing zero errors.
  • Kelley Feigen also drove in two runs across the two games, tied for most on the team for the day.
  • With the victory in game two, Radford earned their first Big South series victory against USC Upstate in program history.
 
GAME ONE
A flurry of errors set up the Highlanders for the lopsided result during the first game of the day in the 12-3 final. After getting the first two batters out in the first, the Spartans worked a walk and connected for a home run to take a 2-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the first, Radford halved that deficit thanks to Bechtol and Rachel Smith. Bechtol drew a walk, moving all the way to third on some pitching mishaps while Smith drove her in with a sacrifice fly.
 
The errors began to pile up after a quiet second, however. Four unearned runs would cross the plate over the third and fourth innings as USC Upstate would take a 6-1 lead. The Spartans bats wouldn't quiet down in the fifth or sixth as they extended their lead to 12-1.
 
Down to their potential final frame, Radford's offense rallied for a pair of runs to end the game on a higher note. R. Smith roped a triple to right center that scored Isabel Harrison while Cassi Barbato earned another RBI with a sacrifice fly. The Highlanders offense wasn't able to avoid the run rule finish, though, as USC Upstate recovered for the last out and finished game one 12-3.
 
GAME TWO
Looking to steady things after the Spartans offensive outburst in the previous game, the Highlanders turned to the freshman Redmon for game two and she delivered. After a two-out single, Redmon kept the Spartans quiet in the opening frame allowing the offense to score right out the gates for the third time this weekend.
 
After Bechtol drew her third walk of the day, she was able to steal second and move to third on a fielder's choice. The Highlanders executed a double steal where Bechtol smoothly took home with no throw for the 1-0 lead.
 
Redmon would face her first trouble of the day in the top of the second as the Spartans put two on the basepaths. With two outs already in the inning, though, Redmon worked through a long plate appearance to induce a groundout and escape unscathed.
 
In the third, the Spartans threatened once again putting runners on the corners with one out. Bechtol, who moved to third for her first career appearance in the infield, made a smart play tagging the runner on third for a crucial out. The following Spartan would double to tie the game at 1-1, but a strong throw from Amber Wolfe in right field helped keep it a tie. Redmon would escape the jam with another groundout.
 
In the fourth, the Spartans once again put runners on the corners but this time with none out. Radford's defense bounced back from an error to cut down a runner trying to steal home for the first out. Redmon got two straight groundouts from there to keep the game at 1-1.
 
While Radford would load the bases in the bottom of the fourth, the Highlanders came up empty keeping the intense game locked in a tie. In the top of the fifth, USC Upstate continued to put baserunners on as runners would reach second and third with none out. In her best balancing act of the evening, Redmon worked a strikeout, a pop out to the catcher and one more groundout to swing the momentum back Radford's way.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Bechtol began the rally getting a single off the first pitch she saw. Harrison followed with a single and R. Smith replaced her on the bases with a fielder's choice putting runners on the corners. Barbato would then work a quick walk to load the bases.
 
Feigen put a strong swing on the ball in her plate appearance, resulting in a fielder's choice that saw nobody thrown out as Bechtol swiped home for the 2-1 lead. A groundout by Abby Bossler also got the job done to add another run and give Radford the 3-1 advantage.
 
Now with the lead, Redmon tossed a dominant effort over the final six outs. The Highlanders went around the horn for a 5-4-3 double play in the sixth, just their fifth double play turned this season. In the seventh, Redmon worked through an error to force three more ground outs and seal the 3-1 victory for the Highlanders.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will make a midweek trip before returning to conference play next weekend. Radford visits a former Big South foe in Campbell on Tuesday, April 1st for a 5 p.m. first pitch streaming Flo Sports.
 
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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