Abby Morrow led the Highlanders to victory with a one-hit bid in a 2-0 win against Dayton in the opener, but the Highlanders couldn’t overcome an early innings deficit in a 6-2 loss to UNCW on Sunday, the final day of the First Pitch Classic in Charlotte.
Morrow (4-1) was the star of the game against Dayton (2-3) on Sunday morning as she only allowed one hit in seven innings pitched. The senior struck out five, recorded 13 groundouts and pitched six three up, three down innings.
She had a perfect game going into the fifth inning, but Lisa Tassi was hit by a pitch to leadoff the fifth inning. After a fielder’s choice, Manda Cash singled back to Morrow for the Flyer’s first hit – and the only hit – of the game.
The Highlanders just needed one run in the game and that came in the first inning. Hannah Medlam was plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded, which scored the go-ahead run and gave Radford an early 1-0 lead.
Radford picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when Maggie Rowe found some green grass in left field with two runners on base. Sofia Tapia, who reached on a walk, scored all the way from second base on the Rowe hit gave the Highlanders a 2-0 lead.
Morrow sat the Flyers down in order in the sixth and seventh inning earning the complete game shutout. Morrow was lights out and ended with seven innings pitched, only one hit allowed, four strikeouts, and recorded 13 ground ball outs.
Four different Highlanders recorded hits in the game. Marissa Gagliano, Maggie Rowe, Talia Douglas and Brianna Mills each had the four hits for Radford. Hannah Medlam and Rowe had the two RBIs for the Highlanders.
Manda Cash (0-1) suffered the loss for Dayton. She pitched six innings, allowed one earned run – two total – on four hits and struck out eight.
Radford left seven runners on base in the game, compared to Dayton’s one.
Radford couldn’t overcome an early 5-0 deficit and left 11 runners on base in the final game of the First Pitch Classic.
UNCW (2-1) scored two runs in the top of the first inning both on RBI singles from Lacy Fox and Emily Langkamp. The Seahawks took a 5-0 lead using four hits to score three runs. Fox picked up her second RBI of the game in the second inning with a double to left field.
Radford (6-3) answered in the bottom of the third as Sienna Williams, who reached on an error, scored on a fielder’s choice to third base. Maggie Rowe stepped up and was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases. Talia Douglas poked a single through the left side that scored Sofia Tapia and cut the deficit to three runs, 5-2.
UNCW manufactured a run in the fourth inning after Kelsey Bryan reached on a bunt single to third base and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. One out later, Kali Jones singled up the middle and scored Bryan adding to the lead, 6-2.
The Highlanders looked to answer again but couldn’t get a run home after a strikeout and a fly out to center field ended the fourth inning with the bases loaded. After a 1-2-3 fifth inning, Sienna Williams roped a double down the left field line for her first career hit in a college uniform to lead off the sixth. She advanced to third after Gagliano was hit by a pitch and Tapia drew a two-out walk. Williams didn’t make it home, however, as the inning came to a close as a fly out to left field left the runners stranded.
Seven of the 11 runners left on base came in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
The Highlanders tallied seven hits in the game against UNCW. Talia Douglas went 2-for-4 with an RBI. She was the lone Highlander with a multi-hit game. Hannah Medlam, Brianna Mills, Sienna Williams and Marissa Gagliano had the other hits for Radford.
Williams’ double was the only extra base hit for the Highlanders and was the freshman’s first career hit.
Jessie Marvin pitched 3.1 innings of relief and only allowed one earned run on four hits. She struck out one and faced 14 batters. Kayla Huffman (1-1) suffered the loss and allowed five runs on seven hits.
Radford travels south once again to compete in the Black & Orange Challenge hosted by Mercer. The Highlanders will open against Eastern Kentucky and Akron on Friday and end with Drexel and Mercer on Saturday.
–RU Athletics
