Highlanders Earn Split with Liberty in Regular Season Finale

Lynchburg, Va. -- Ashley Smith's (Roanoke, Va.) two-run two-out home run in the top of the seventh and a complete-game shutout by Deana Benner (Glen Burnie, Md.) helped the Highlanders down Liberty, 2-0 in game one. Down to their final out, the Lady Flames plated three runs in the seventh and another in the eighth to win the second game, 7-6, of a Big South Conference doubleheader with Radford as the Highlanders took the opener, 2-0, Sunday afternoon, on Senior Day at the Liberty Softball Field.

In game one, Benner and LU's Ali Thompson combined to scatter 16 hits and strand 16 runners on base, while striking out a collective 17 batters. But it was the last hit of the game that proved to be the decisive one as Smith connected on her team-leading sixth home run of the season with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, plating Glynn Tolleson (Tomball, Texas) and giving Radford (15-34, 6-4 BSC) all the runs that it would need. Smith, who's home run is tied for the third highest in a RU single-season, and tied for fourth in a career (9), finished the doubleheader 4-for-6 with three RBI.

Benner picked up the victory as she scattered eight hits, while striking out seven batters and not walking a batter to record her first shutout of the season. Thompson took the loss as she allowed two runs on eight hits, while posting her second-consecutive 10-plus strikeout performance with 10 strikeouts on the afternoon.

The Highlanders jumped out to an early 2-0 in the second inning of the second game as Amber Drexel (Knoxville, Tenn.) reached base with an infield single followed by Katie Lemmert's (Lovettsville, Va.) third home run of the year, which was a two-run blast over the center field wall.

Liberty (14-30, 3-4 BSC) cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the frame as Britney Morris helped out her own cause with a single that fell between the leftfielder and the shortstop, plating senior Mary Beth Kennell , who led off the inning with a walk.

The Lady Flames took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning as a dropped foul ball by the first baseman extended Amanda Maska's at bat and she made the extra opportunity count as she connected on a two-run homer on the next pitch, plating Leanne Long, who led of the frame with a single to left field.

The Highlanders regained the lead in the fourth inning as Hallie East (Roanoke, Va.) drove in two runs with a double to the gap in left centerfield, while Smith drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Lara Wohlgemuth (Centreville, Va.) and give Radford a 5-3 advantage. Radford added an insurance run in the sixth inning as Tolleson's sacrifice fly allowed East to cross the plate.

However, the Lady Flames would rally in the bottom of the seventh inning as the senior tandem of Allison Terry and Amanda Goc refused to go quietly in their final home game as Terry doubled to centerfield to drive in Maska, who reached on an error to lead off the inning, while Goc followed with a two-out two-run homer, her first of the season, to send the game into extra innings. After holding the Highlanders scoreless in to score the winning run.

Adrienne Daniels picked up her first career victory in relief of Morris as Daniels scattered five hits over 4 2/3 innings of work, while surrendering one run. Benner took the loss for the Highlanders in relief of starting pitcher Jennifer Bosley as Benner allowed four-unearned runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings of action.

After not making an error in game one, the Highlanders made four miscues in the second game, resulting in six of Liberty's seven runs unearned. Offensively, East, Drexel, Lemmert and Lindsay Woody (Annapolis, Md.) finished the doubleheader, 3-for-7. East, with a pair of doubles, and Lemmert each knocked in a pair, while Lemmert and Drexel each scored two runs for the Highlanders.

Radford's regular season has concluded. They will be off until the Big South Tournament held at Winthrop University from May 8-10. The Highlanders', in second place after today's games, seed has yet to be determined as Conference play has not been wrapped up.

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box