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Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
RachelSmith
1
Longwood LWU 21-32
3
Winner Radford RAD 30-25
Longwood LWU
21-32
1
Final
3
Radford RAD
30-25
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Longwood LWU 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 6 0
Radford RAD 0 0 2 0 1 0 X 3 9 0

W: Cooper, Morgan (11-10) L: STRICKLAND, Morgan (4-9) S: Redmon, Dakota (2)

1
Winner WINTHROP WINTHROP 30-22
0
Radford RAD 30-26
Winner
WINTHROP WINTHROP
30-22
1
Final
0
Radford RAD
30-26
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
WINTHROP WINTHROP 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 7 0
Radford RAD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

W: ADDISON, Lonna (11-6) L: Redmon, Dakota (16-10)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Stays Alive with Win Over Longwood, Ultimately Falls to Winthrop in Tight Finish to Season

CLINTON, S.C. –The Radford softball program came back in a big way downing second-seed Longwood 3-1 Friday afternoon before ultimately falling in their elimination game against Winthrop in a tight 1-0 final.
 
GAME ONE
Looking to bounce back against their in-state rivals, Radford dug deep and used some clutch hitting to overcome Longwood in their first elimination game of the day. Morgan Cooper, earning the start, was huge for the Highlanders in keeping a powerful Longwood offense at arm's length.
 
In the first, Cooper retired three straight to set the tone. In the bottom half Radford got a pair of runners thanks to a walk by Amanda Lee and a double from Rachel Smith. The Highlanders weren't able to cash in, though, keeping it a 0-0 game.
 
The Lancers got their first baserunner in the second via walk, but Cooper allowed nothing else preserving the tie early. Abby Bossler added another double in the offensive half, but with two outs already Radford came out empty handed. Another strikeout and working around a hit, Cooper kept it a 0-0 ballgame in the third.
 
Grace Bechtol would lead off the bottom of the third with a single through the left side and promptly swiping second to set up a scoring opportunity. A sacrifice bunt moved Bechtol to third and she came home on a wild pitch to give Radford a 1-0 lead. Not satisfied, R. Smith blasted a deep home run to left to push Radford's lead further at 2-0.
 
Cooper kept working, tossing a scoreless fourth and perfect fifth to keep Radford ahead. In the bottom of the fifth, Radford got a big insurance run thanks to some clutch hitting from Isabel Harrison. After R. Smith led the inning off with a single, she moved to second on a groundout. Harrison would single to right, scoring Smith and giving Radford the 3-0 edge.
 
In the sixth, the Lancers were finally able to break through. With three hits and just one out to break it up, Longwood made it a 3-1 game. Radford made a pitching change bringing in Dakota Redmon who forced a big double play up the middle to preserve the lead.
 
Radford got a pair of runners in the sixth as well, but were held scoreless keeping it a 3-1 game. Longwood didn't go away quietly in the seventh. The Lancers would load the bases off some bloop hits and a walk. With two outs already in the inning, Redmon sealed the deal with a strikeout for her second save this season. Winning 3-1, Radford advanced to their next elimination game against Winthrop.
 
GAME TWO
Looking to stay hot, a pitcher's duel broke out in another tight affair between Radford and Winthrop with a ticket to the championship on the line. Abby Peace earned the start and was a huge force in Radford's attempt for revenge.
 
Peace allowed just one hit in the first to keep things scoreless early. While the offense would be retired in order the first time through, Peace kept working to keep the game tied. Winthrop got a hit in the second, but Peace worked around that keeping the game at 0-0. In the third Winthrop led the inning off with a double but Peace once again buckled down retiring three straight.
 
The Eagles went down in order in the fourth, but so did Radford as the pitcher's duel continued on. Peace retired two in the fifth before Redmon would come in for relief again looking to keep things scoreless. She did just that, and Radford's offense would continue to look for that big hit.
 
Kelley Feigen broke up the perfect game bid in the bottom of the fifth with a one-out single. Harrison also singled as the offense seemed to find its rhythm. Two straight outs ended the threat, however, and kept the game locked at zero.
 
Winthrop would put a runner on third with none out to begin the sixth. A walk and stolen base moved two runners into scoring position with still one out. Redmon got a huge strikeout and a pop out to end the threat.
 
Radford's offense was unable to find that golden run, however, which came back to haunt in the seventh. With two outs, Winthrop laced a solo home run to center that gave them the first lead of the game. Feigen would work a long at bat into a walk in the bottom of the inning, but the team's incredible run came to an end with the third out and 1-0 final.
 
The Highlanders keep their heads held high after an incredible 2025 campaign. Behind the leadership of first-year head coach Kevin Fagan, Radford saw renewed energy in the program reaching the 30-win mark for the first time since 2018, the first regular season championship since 2012, and multiple highlight moments throughout. Radford is incredibly thankful for its family, friends and supporters who cheered the team on from far and near all throughout the season.

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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