The Radford University softball team defeated NRV foe, Virginia Tech, 4-3 in front of a capacity crowd at the Radford Softball Stadium on Wednesday night. The win gives Radford its first multi-game season sweep over the Hokies since 1997 and an undefeated regular season record against ACC opponents for the first time in program history.
The Highlanders made it all possible with a three run fifth inning. With two outs, the game tied at one and Sofia Tapia at first, Talia Douglas stepped into the batter’s box. She already had Radford’s first RBI in the third inning and was looking for another. However, the first pitch she saw hit her and put runners at first and second with two outs.
Hannah Medlam stepped to the dish and hit a high fly ball in between the left fielder and shortstop. The outfielder and infielder had some miscommunication and the ball dropped in between the two in shallow left field. Tapia raced around third and touched home plate as soon the ball hit the ground. Tapia’s run gave Radford a 2-1 lead, while Douglas went to third and Medlam stood at second.
The inning continued as Maggie Rowe drove in the two runners with a screaming line drive to left field. The two-run single gave Radford a 4-1 lead and handed Rowe her team-leading fifth multi-RBI game of the season.
The three-run inning was huge as the Hokies answered in the top of the sixth. Back-to-back singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with no outs. After a shallow fly ball to right field that Brianna Mills caught for the first out, Jessie Mehr cut the lead in half as she drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to Medlam at second. Gagliano charged in on a little dribbling ball and made the final out of the inning all while leaving the tying run at first base.
The threat was not over as a single from Caroline Schoenewald led off the seventh inning. She advanced to second after an error by Mills in right field. Clean-up hitter, Caroline Eberle, put runners at the corners with an RBI single. Sierra Walton was able to get the lead down to one as she drove in Schoenewald with the Hokies’ 12th hit of the game.
Abby Morrow (14-8) buckled down and was able to get the ground ball she needed for the final out of the game. The senior picked up the win and her 13th complete game of the season – 60th of her career.
The win gives Radford a 3-0 record against ACC opponents for the first time in program history. It’s the first multi-game season sweep against Virginia Tech since 1997. The Highlanders won the only game they played against the Hokies in 2010.
Radford tallied eight hits in the game with all eight coming from a different player. Mills and Medlam led the squad with two doubles – the only Highlander extra base hits of the night.
Rowe had the timeliest hit of the evening with a two-run single in the fifth inning. She now has a team-leading 27 RBIs this season. Douglas and Medlam had an RBI each, while the one through four hitters in the batting order scored all the runs.
Morrow pitched another game with no walks allowed. She tallied four strikeouts, three of which came in the first two innings. The senior picked up her 60th career complete game and 13th of the season.
Five Hokies had multi-hit games and were led by Carrie Eberle with a 3-for-4 performance. She also scored a run and drove one in.
“It was finally nice to have our home opener and even better to have it against a New River Valley opponent. It was great to see a full crowd in the stands and I think our girls fed off the energy. We did the little things right in tonight’s game and I’m proud of the results it showed. A team win like this is great heading into a big-time Big South series against Liberty.” – Hope Creasy
Radford welcomes fellow Commonwealth rival, Liberty, to Radford Softball Stadium for a crucial Big South series. The three-game series will feature a double dose of softball on Saturday at 2 and 4 p.m.
–RU Athletics
