RU softball falls to Liberty in championship game

Relentless was the mindset the Radford softball team had all season long and the Highlanders showed that determination, but fell just short in the Big South Championship title game to top-seeded Liberty, 5-1 on Saturday.

The Flames struck first as Autumn Bishop, who delivered the three-run home run in the first meeting of the tournament between the two teams, hit a two-run double in the second inning that gave Liberty a 2-0 lead.

That relentless effort showed in the top of the third as the Highlanders picked up their first hit of the game and eventually their first run later in the inning. Brianna Mills reached with an infield single to lead things off. After back-to-back fielder’s choices, Maddrey was on first and swiped second with two outs. Gagliano picked up her lone hit of the game with a double to left center field and Maddrey scored from second to cut the deficit to one, 2-1.

Gagliano’s two-bagger was her 16th of the season, which is fifth best in a single season at Radford. However, a groundout to first base ended the threat with the Riviera Beach, Fla., native at second.

Liberty had the bases loaded once again with one out, this time in the fourth inning. Hope Creasy made the call to the bullpen and brought in Kayla Huffman to face Amber Bishop, Autumn’s sister.

Morrow picked up her 127th start of the season, which ties her for second in a career at Radford. She leaves atop the career record books with 173 appearances in the circle and inside numerous top 10 categories.

The other Bishop sister roped the third pitch of the at-bat down the left field line that cleared the bases and gave Liberty a 5-1 lead. The Bishop sister’s were responsible for all of the Flames’ runs in the game.

Mills’ relentless attitude carried over into the top of the fifth as she singled to left center field, but couldn’t make it any further as Julia DiMartino picked up nine straight outs. The nine consecutive outs secured Liberty with the automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals.

The Highlanders finished as the Big South Championship runner-up for the first time since 2011.

Mills was the only Highlander to pick up multiple hits in the game. She went 2-for-3 with two singles. Gagliano had the other hit and the lone RBI of the game. Douglas finished the tournament 5-for-16 with a double and five RBIs. Huffman entered and only allowed one hit in 2.2 innings pitched with three strikeouts.

Radford hit two home runs in the tournament as one came from Hunter Mundy and the other came from Gagliano. The Highlanders had seven doubles through the week as Gagliano and Tapia led with two.

Morrow pitched 22.1 innings with two wins – both against Longwood – in tournament play. With her two tournament wins, Morrow finishes her career tied for second at Radford with 74 career victories.

Radford finishes as the runner-up in the Big South Championship for the first time since 2011. Creasy in her first season as head coach for the Highlanders picked up 36 wins, which is the second most in a head coaches first year at Radford. Mickey Dean won 44 games in his first season with the Highlanders.

“I’m proud of the fight in these girls. I wouldn’t trade them for anyone else. We fought until the very end, it just wasn’t our day. All in all it was a great season for us to finish ahead of where we were picked in the conference and to be runner up in the championship. Our two graduates had great careers and helped this team grow so much,” said RU Coach Hope Creasy.

2018 BIG SOUTH ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

–RU softball