Softball Battles Close in Tight Final at #9 Tennessee

Tuesday, April 21

Knoxville, TN

6:00 PM

Radford University

22-23

Tennessee

38-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Radford	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	2	0
Tennessee	0	0	2	0	0	0	X	2	3	1

Photo by: Rob Simmons

Softball Battles Close in Tight Final at #9 Tennessee

4/21/2026 8:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Radford pitching staff was excellent Tuesday night holding #9 Tennessee to just a pair of runs, but the Highlanders ultimately came up just short in the tight 2-1 affair.

PLAY BY PLAY
Facing a dangerous offense, Radford's pitching staff saw the combined efforts of Madison Sabo, Morgan Cooper and Abby Peace hold Tennessee to just two runs. Sabo began that strong showing with scoreless first and second innings before giving up her first hit and a pair of runs in the third.

After that, Cooper would enter in relief beginning in the fourth inning and was similarly excellent. Cooper threw up a zero in the bottom of the fourth and the offense came alive in the fifth. A Malli Groves double in the third represented all of Radford's offensive output through four, but the tides turned in the fifth as Amanda Lee kicked things off with a single.

Amber Wolfe would also draw a walk and Radford would sub in Emma Salzman and Taylor Higgins to pinch run. After a groundout moved both into scoring position, Peyton Simmons made good contact and an error allowed Salzman to come home and score before the inning ended to make it a 2-1 game.

Cooper went back to work and picked up three straight fly outs to end the bottom of the fifth. Layla Miles and Hailey Scott would both draw walks in the sixth, but the rally ended there. Peace came in for her lone inning of work and battled back from a lead off walk to strand a runner at second to keep the deficit at one. It was a three up, three down top of the seventh for Radford, though, as the upset attempt came up just short in the 2-1 final.

UP NEXT
The Highlanders return their focus to conference play this weekend. Radford will visit Winthrop for their final bout against Big South foes before postseason play with seeding implications still up in the air. First pitch for Friday's opener is set for 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+.

STAY SOCIAL WITH RADFORD SOFTBALL
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).

#RiseAndDefend