Highlanders Fall in Pair of Tough Outings in Final Day at Troy

TROY, Ala. –The Radford softball program fell in a pair of tough battles Saturday afternoon, first falling to Central Arkansas 9-2 before falling to Troy 2-1 in extra innings.

GAME ONE
Madison Sabo got the starting nod for game one and had a strong start in her outing. Sao retired the first three batters she saw, allowing Radford to take an early lead in the bottom of the first. Amanda Lee would double, moved to third on a wild pitch, and would come home thanks to a sacrifice fly from Malli Groves.

Ahead 1-0, Sabo dialed up another 1-2-3 frame in the second. In the bottom half, Abby Bossler followed Lee's example with a double. Emma Salzman replaced Bossler on the bases and took third on a wild pitch. Kelley Feigen doubled the Radford lead with a single up the middle, making it 2-0.

A pair of walks accounted for Sabo's first base runners given up on the day, and Central Arkansas took advantage using a sacrifice fly to pull the game closer at 2-1. Sabo stayed in control, though, limiting the damage.

The Highlanders threatened again in the bottom of the third with singles from Lee and Hailey Scott. Back-to-back ground outs ended that threat and from then on the Highlanders struggled to find answers on the offensive end.

Sabo tossed clean fourth and fifth innings, but in the sixth the flood gates opened for Central Arkansas. Off six hits, the Bears put four on the scoreboard to lead 5-2. Radford had no answer in the offensive half and after four more runs were tacked on in the seventh, the Highlanders fell on the wrong end of a 9-2 final.

GAME TWO
The night cap and weekend finale against Troy was a pitcher's night as both squads were locked in a 0-0 battle all the way through extras. Radford's offense wasn't held totally silent, however, recording 10 hits but just missing that "big" hit in multiple scenarios.

Morgan Cooper got the starting nod for Radford and was excellent in four innings of work. Facing a tough Troy offense, Cooper allowed just two hits and no runs.

Radford's first scoring chance came in the third as freshman Layla Miles roped a double for her first collegiate hit. Myles was stranded there, though, and the game remained scoreless. In the fourth, Radford got runners on second and third with one out as Groves and Bossler both singled. An unfortunate double play wiped the inning and kept things tied.

Dakota Redmon entered the game in the fifth and worked through some early trouble to keep things scoreless. Redmon would record big strikeouts throughout the sixth and seventh inning to force extras for the first time in 2026.

Radford would get two runners in scoring position to begin the eighth. The Highlanders put two great swings on the ball, but both came right at fielders to eliminate another scoring threat. Redmon kept things locked down again to force a ninth inning of play. Pinch running on the bases, Grace Hogie was finally able to break to scoreless tie. After a sacrifice bunt from Bossler, Hogie swiped home for the 1-0 lead.

Troy was also able to break their scoreless streak in the bottom of the ninth. The hosts found their swing and, with one out and two runners on, hit the game-winning double to center to finish the game 2-1 in their favor.

UP NEXT
Tomorrow's final game against IU Indy has been canceled due to forecasted weather. Radford will now turn their focus to a big-time midweek match up coming up on Wednesday, February 18th at North Carolina. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. on ACC Network Extra in Chapel Hill.

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For all the latest on Radford Softball, be sure to follow the team on X (@RadfordSoftball), Instagram (@radfordsoftball), and "like" the team's official Facebook Page (Radford Softball).

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Players Mentioned

#8 Abby Bossler: INF; 5' 8"; Junior; L/R

#1 Morgan Cooper: RHP; 5' 3"; Junior; L/R

#18 Kelley Feigen: C; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

#9 Grace Hogie: OF; 5' 4"; Redshirt Junior; R/R

#12 Amanda Lee: INF; 5' 6"; Junior; R/R

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

#27 Madison Sabo: RHP; 5' 10"; Senior; R/R

#19 Hailey Scott: INF; 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior; L/R

#40 Emma Salzman: OF; 5' 2"; Sophomore; L/R

#6 Malli Groves: UTL; 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#8 Abby Bossler
: 5' 8"; Junior; L/R
: INF

#1 Morgan Cooper
: 5' 3"; Junior; L/R
: RHP

#18 Kelley Feigen
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: C

#9 Grace Hogie
: 5' 4"; Redshirt Junior; R/R
: OF

#12 Amanda Lee
: 5' 6"; Junior; R/R
: INF

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

#27 Madison Sabo
: 5' 10"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#19 Hailey Scott
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior; L/R
: INF

#40 Emma Salzman
: 5' 2"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#6 Malli Groves
: 5' 8"; Freshman; R/R
: UTL