Softball Slugs Past Presbyterian to Claim Full Possession of Regular Season Title

BOX SCORE RADFORD, Va. – The Radford softball program got a career night from senior Rachel Smith and slugged three home runs to power past Presbyterian 7-2 to take the series opener Friday night.

The previously scheduled game two for Friday's slate was postponed to Saturday due to weather. Radford and Presbyterian will complete their weekend series on Saturday, May 3rd, with a doubleheader kicking off at 10 a.m.

KEY STATS

It was a career night for R. Smith who set a single game high with 5 RBI, slugged her season-high ninth home run, and passed the career 100 RBI milestone.
Kelley Feigen's home run was her first in a Highlander uniform.
The three home runs are the most slugged in a single game by Radford this season.
The Highlanders drew seven walks, led by Isabel Harrison who drew two, for their most in a single game this season.
With the win, Radford secured victory in the series opener of every single Big South series.

PLAY BY PLAY
Coming off over a week without action, the Highlanders took a couple innings before the offense was able to start rolling. Starting pitcher Dakota Redmon kept things even in the meantime, using a pair of double plays in the first and second to keep Presbyterian scoreless.

In the third, Radford got its first big blast of the evening. After Harrison drew a walk, R. Smith hit a two-run homer to give Radford the 2-0 lead. Cassi Barbato would follow with a walk and Feigen kept things rolling with a two-run homer of her own that doubled the lead to 4-0.

Redmon would toss a perfect 1-2-3 frame in the third before Radford's offense was held scoreless in the top of the fourth. Following an almost four hour weather delay, Radford and Presbyterian returned to action in the bottom of the fourth. Redmon retired two straight to end the inning, but the Blue Hose would strike in fifth to tighten the game.

Five of the first six Presbyterian batters in the bottom of the fifth would reach to pull Radford's lead to just 4-2. Redmon settled in earning a big strikeout and groundout to end the threat and preserve the lead.

Klara Van Beuge would begin the sixth with a pinch hit walk while Grace Bechtol doubled to put a pair in scoring position. R. Smith stepped up to the task to provide some insurance runs striking for her second home run of the day, her second multi-homer game in conference play this season. The blast put Radford ahead 7-2 and gave Smith her 100th, 101st and 102nd career RBI.

Redmon would take care of the rest in the bottom of the sixth and seventh only allowing one baserunner over the final two innings. Through the elongated game, Radford came out on top 7-2 to clinch sole possession of first in the Big South regular season standings.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders will close out the regular season with a pair of games tomorrow morning. Action begins against the Blue Hose at 10 a.m. with game two of the doubleheader to shortly follow weather permitting.

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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Players Mentioned

#13 Cassi Barbato: C/IF; 5' 7"; Senior; L/R

#11 Grace Bechtol: IF; 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R

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

#18 Kelley Feigen: C; 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R

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

#15 Dakota Redmon: RHP/IF; 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R

#22 Klara Van Beuge: INF//OF; 6' 0"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#13 Cassi Barbato
: 5' 7"; Senior; L/R
: C/IF

#11 Grace Bechtol
: 5' 4"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

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

#18 Kelley Feigen
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; R/R
: C

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

#15 Dakota Redmon
: 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R
: RHP/IF

#22 Klara Van Beuge
: 6' 0"; Freshman; R/R
: INF//OF