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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
GraceBechtol
Rob Simmons
4
Longwood LWU 13-24, 7-5 BSC
5
Winner Radford RAD 24-20, 9-3 BSC
Longwood LWU
13-24, 7-5 BSC
4
Final
5
Radford RAD
24-20, 9-3 BSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Longwood LWU 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 7 1
Radford RAD 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 5 11 0

W: Redmon, Dakota (14-6) L: CHAPIN, Maggie (7-11)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Digs Deep, Walks Off Lancers in Nine Innings for Electric Series Victory

RADFORD, Va. – The Radford softball program dug deep in a nine-inning affair Sunday afternoon for their series finale against Longwood with Grace Bechtol playing hero lacing the walk-off RBI double in a 5-4 win.
 
KEY STATS
  • Dakota Redmon set a new career-high for innings pitched going the full nine for the Highlanders finishing with 174 pitches.
  • The heart of Radford's order supplied multi-hit games all over as Rachel Smith, Cassi Barbato, Kelley Feigen, Grace Bechtol and Abby Bossler all had two hits.
  • R. Smith's homer was the first by a Highlander at Radford Softball Stadium this season. The senior is milestone chasing, currently sitting at 99 RBIs in her career.
  • The extra inning win is Radford's fifth this season. The team now has a 5-1 record when playing past the seventh.
  • The series victory over the Lancers is the first ever by the Highlanders with the two programs playing each other in Big South play dating back to the 2014 season.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
Sunday's thriller got off to a rocky start for the Highlanders, as the Lancers used two home runs in the opening inning to take an early 2-0 advantage. Redmon would settle in after the early strike, retiring the Lancers scoring threats in the first and second while getting a 1-2-3 third inning.
 
The first two Lancers would reach base in the fourth, but Redmon would retire the next three straight to keep it a 2-0 ballgame. In the bottom of the fourth, Radford's offense finally broke through.
 
After R. Smith singled and Bechtol walked to put two on, Radford was down to its final out in the frame looking for a clutch hit. Bossler came up with that strike, doubling off the center field wall to score Smith and Bechtol tying the game 2-2.
 
Longwood didn't wait long for their response, as another homer in the fifth put the visitors back ahead by two. The long ball was the Lancer's fifth of the weekend representing all of their offensive production over the three games. Redmon would not allow a home run over the final four innings of the game.
 
In the fifth, the Highlanders would pick Redmon up with another big swing. A costly fielding error put Amanda Lee on the bases and, after a pitching change, R. Smith would blast a two-run homer to right center that tied the game back up 4-4.
 
The Lancers would be retired in order in the sixth, and Radford would load the bases in their half. Feigen singled, Bechtol put down a perfect bunt and Klara Van Beuge worked a clutch walk to put three runners on. With two outs already in the inning, though, a sharp flyout from Lee to center would end the threat.
 
After Redmon worked around a pair of two-out baserunners in the top of the seventh, the Highlanders got another chance for a walk off. With two outs already in the inning, Barbato singled and Feigen walked to put two on but the rally halted short sending the game to extras.
 
The Lancers were held quiet in the eighth as Redmon worked around an infield single to preserve the tie. A single by Bossler opened Radford's offensive half of the eighth while Josie Driggers entered for her first career plate appearance drawing a walk to put two on. Runners would go to the corners after a fielder's choice and with two outs already in the frame Radford came up empty looking for the big hit.
 
Having to face the teeth of the Lancers lineup a fifth time in the ninth, Redmon dialed up her most impressive work yet. The freshman showed no signs of fatigue helping turn a 1-6-3 double play that ended the top of the inning.
 
After Radford's first two batters struck out to begin the ninth the team needed to dig deep for a rally. Feigen kicked things off with a hard single that bounced off the pitcher's glove to put a runner on. After going up in the count 3-0, Bechtol looked to play hero.
 
The sophomore dialed in and struck a bullet double to left center field. Feigen, after spending the last nine innings behind the plate, turned third for an aggressive send home. Longwood's throw wasn't in time as Feigen slid in safely, confirmed by replay review, as the Highlanders walked off the Lancers 5-4 in the ninth.
 
UP NEXT
Radford will go back on the road for a quick battle with an ACC foe on Tuesday afternoon at (RV) Virginia. Action is set to begin at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
 
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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