Abby Morrow picked up the win over Virginia Tech Wednesday for Radford University. Morrow is now 7-2 on the season.
A strong defensive performance and another complete game shutout from Abby Morrow gave the Radford softball team a 4-0 win over Virginia Tech on Wednesday night. It’s the first win for Radford at Tech Softball Park since 2009.
Morrow (7-2) picked up her eighth complete game and her fourth complete game shutout this season. She allowed eight hits but relied on the defense behind her to make plays and they did just that. The Highlander defense committed no errors for the fourth time this season all coming within the last six games.
Radford (10-4) could only muster up three hits but took advantage of some key Virginia Tech miscues and that started in the sixth inning. Marissa Gagliano drew walk to start the inning. She scored the first run of the game all the way from first on a throwing error by the Hokie pitcher. Sofia Tapia, who reached on the error, scored the second run of the inning on a base hit off the bat of Hannah Medlam that gave Radford a 2-0 lead.
The Highlanders picked up two more insurance runs in top of the seventh inning. With two runners in scoring position and two-outs, pinch-hitter Callie Morgan scored on a wild pitch putting Radford ahead, 3-0. In the same at-bat Gagliano scored on passed ball that put Radford in the lead, 4-0.
Virginia Tech (7-6) ended five of the seven innings with runners on base. The Highlanders made great plays defensively, such as a 1-6-3 double play in the first inning, Maggie Rowe throwing out a runner at second in the third inning and a Morrow strikeout – her lone of the game – ending the sixth inning with the tying run on base. Those top-notch plays kept the game within reach and led to the victory.
The Highlanders took advantage of five walks and two Virginia Tech errors en route to the win. Gagliano was great defensively and tallied four putouts and a team-high four assists.
Hannah Medlam picked up two of the three hits for Radford, while Gagliano had the other. Medlam had the only Highlander extra base hit, which was a double that came in the second inning. She also was the only player in gray to drive in a run. Gagliano led the way with two runs scored, while Tapia and Morgan scored the others.
Three of Radford’s four runs came with two outs in the inning and each team left six runners on base. The Hokies struck out the Highlanders 10 times and led both teams with eight hits. Radford split with Virginia Tech in 2017, but it’s the first Highlander win inside Tech Softball Park since 2009.
“Virginia Tech is a good team and hit the ball hard. Our team played phenomenal defense throughout the game. While we didn’t have the best day at the plate, we had players step up with clutch hits and executed the short game when we needed it most.” ~ Radford head coach Hope Creasy