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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Team
7
Winner WINTHROP WINTHROP 29-21
4
Radford RAD 29-25
Winner
WINTHROP WINTHROP
29-21
7
Final
4
Radford RAD
29-25
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
WINTHROP WINTHROP 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 7 14 3
Radford RAD 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 11 1

W: POWELL, Megan (16-11) L: Redmon, Dakota (16-9)

Game Recap: Softball |

Marathon Tournament Opener Doesn’t Fall Highlanders’ Way

CLINTON, S.C. – The Radford softball program battled back, was resilient, but came up just short in an 11-inning marathon to open the Big South Tournament Thursday afternoon.
 
PLAY BY PLAY
After an early walk by starting pitcher Morgan Cooper, the sophomore settled back in to retire three straight in the opening frame. Radford's offense was held quiet in the bottom half and Winthrop struck for a lone run in the second to go up 1-0. A double put Radford quickly behind 2-0 in the third.
 
Not backing down, Dakota Redmon entered in the fourth to try and swing momentum back Radford's way. Redmon dialed up a 1-2-3 fourth, and the offense responded in the bottom half. Back-to-back singles by Rachel Smith and Cassi Barbato set the stage.
 
With one out, Isabel Harrison put the ball in play and was able to drive in a run off a fielder's choice. After a pitching change, Grace Hogie drew a hit by pitch to load the bases. With two outs, Emily Smith roped a clutch two-RBI single to left to score two and put Radford ahead 3-2.
 
Redmon would go back to work in the fifth and strand two runners to preserve the lead. Radford got a pair of two-out runners in the bottom half but wasn't able to convert for some insurance. After a perfect sixth that saw all three outs go to shortstop Rachel Smith, Radford's lead held at 3-2 after a quiet bottom of the sixth.
 
After a single and a sacrifice bunt put a runner on second, Redmon got a crucial second out in foul territory. Down to their final out, and strike, the Eagles came alive for back-to-back RBI singles that put them back in front 4-3.
 
The Highlanders didn't back down as Amanda Lee began the bottom of the seventh with a double. Two outs threatened the scoring opportunity, but Kelley Feigen stepped up big with an RBI single that tied the game and sent it to extras.
 
After a 1-2-3 eighth by Redmon, Radford got two runners on but was unable to crack the game-winner. Winthrop was held similarly quiet in the ninth, but Radford had no answer as the game trudged into the tenth.
 
The Eagles began the tenth with two singles to get their first scoring threat since the seventh. With one out, a single down the left field line seemed to give Winthrop the edge but Harrison roped a perfect throw home to cut down the runner and preserve the tie at 4-4.
 
Radford's offense couldn't strike in the bottom of the tenth, setting Winthrop up in the eleventh. The Eagles bats didn't slow down as the bases went loaded with one out. Radford induced a ground ball to get a runner out at the plate, but a throwing error trying to turn two allowed one Eagle to score and elongate the inning. Two more hits would drive in two more runs for Winthrop, who now led 7-4.
 
Radford's hopes came down to the heart of the order getting hot in the bottom of the eleventh. Lee began the inning with a single, but that was all Radford would get as the marathon battle ended in 11 innings 7-4 in Winthrop's favor.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders are still alive in the double-elimination tournament format. Radford will face the winner of #2 Longwood vs. #5 Charleston Southern at an estimated 2:30 p.m. first pitch on the penultimate day of the Big South Tournament.
 
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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