Radford Downs Elon in Doubleheader Action
RADFORD, Va. ? The Radford Highlanders defeated Elon in non-conference doubleheader action on Thursday evening at the Dedmon Center Field. The Highlanders used a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 2-1 victory in the first game. Radford rallied with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in game two to earn a 6-3 win.
Hope Creasy, the first batter in the bottom of the seventh, blasted a home run out of centerfield to give Radford a 2-1 win in the first game.
Elon got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Paige Goss put down a bunt single and stole second. Debbie Zeigler knocked a grounder to the short stop, but an error allowed her to reach first and Goss to cross home plate, giving Elon a 1-0 lead.
The Highlanders responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Jenn Everhart doubled to left centerfield and Sarah Himan earned a walk to put runners on first and second. Creasy then doubled down the left field line to send Everhart home and tie the game, 1-1.
Ashley Taylor (19-14) picked up the win after hurling a complete game and giving up one run on one hit while striking out nine batters. Meredith Gay (2-1) suffered the loss after tossing six innings and giving up two runs on seven hits.
Creasy led the Highlanders from the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.
In the second game, Elon started the scoring in the top of the second inning. Jaimie Rao earned a walk and stole second before Laurin Smith reached on an error to put runners on the corners. Ashlee Crewe took the first pitch into centerfield for an RBI single, sending Rao home to give Elon a 1-0 lead. Candi Marshburn put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third before Goss singled to right field to send Smith home. Tracey Dahlen knocked a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate Crewe and give Elon a 3-0 advantage.
Radford posted two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the bases loaded Himan singled to left field to send Everhart and Cassie Rhodes home to cut the lead to one, 3-2.
The Highlanders rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead. Creasy earned a walk, Alex Roderick reached on an error and Anne Tatum singled to load the bases. Michelle Carlson then earned a walk to send Creasy home but the final ball was a wild pitch that got away for the Elon catcher, allowing Roderick to also take home, giving Radford the 4-3 lead. With runners on second and third, Tatum scored on a wild pitch and Carlson advanced to third before she took home on another a wild pitch to put Radford ahead 6-3.
Bre Felix (19-6) picked up the win after throwing seven innings and giving up three runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out six batters. Samantha Schroeder (0-8) suffered the loss for the Phoenix after tossing five innings and giving up six runs (three earned) on seven hits while fanning two batters. Carol Lilley threw an inning in relief and gave up no runs on one hit.
Everhart and Rhodes were each 2-for-4 from the plate with one run scored to lead the Highlanders while Himan posted two RBI.
Crewe went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI to lead the Phoenix. Goss and Patti Weber each posted two hits while Goss and Dahlen posted one RBI a piece.
Elon returns to action on Tuesday, May 1 in a doubleheader at Charlotte starting at 6 p.m.