Clayton’s Double Propels Radford to Sweep of Campbell in Regular Season Finale

Smith Breaks Career RBI Record in Game Two

Radford, Va. - Senior Sara Beth Clayton’s (Chesapeake, Va.) two-run double in the bottom of the eighth propelled Radford (38-23) to a 7-6 victory game two victory and a sweep of Campbell (29-27) this afternoon from Dedmon Center Field. The Highlanders won game one, 2-0, behind a two-hitter from sophomore Bre Felix (Spring Valley, Calif.). The win was the Highs fifth straight and the 12th in their last 15 games.

Game One Box

Game Two Box

In the final home game for RU’s three seniors, all three provided big hits on the day. Clayton was 1-for-2 with three RBI in game two. Ashley Smith (Roanoke, Va.) broke RU’s career RBI record with a two-run home run in the fifth of game two. On the day, she was 3-for-6 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI. Lara Wohlgemuth (Centreville, Va.) was 4-for-7 with a double and two runs scored.

In game one, Felix (24-11) allowed just a pair of infield hits in the fourth inning, struck out 11 and walked one batter. It was her eighth shutout this season, tying the single-season and career record for shutouts. She also reached double digits in strikeouts for the seventh time this year.

Campbell’s Lauren Caviness (11-7) was the tough luck loser, allowing both runs on seven hits. She struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Radford struck for a run in the first on a fielder’s choice groundout by freshman Ashley Taylor (Ringgold, Va.). Wohlgemuth led off with an infield single, followed by freshman Ashley Carlson’s (Chesapeake, Va.) bunt single. Smith doubled off the fence but a strong relay by Campbell nailed Wohlgemuth at home. Carlson scored when the throw home on Taylor’s grounder was not in time.

The Highs added a run in the fifth with two outs as Smith doubled home freshman Cassie Rhodes (Goode, Va.) who led off with a double. With the RBI, Smith tied the career record of 120. She finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles.

In game two, Campbell jumped out to a 5-1 lead after three inning courtesy home runs by Chelsea Gates and Jessica Huffman. The Highlanders clawed their way back into the game, tying it with two out in the seventh and erasing a 6-5 deficit in the eighth.

Gates gave the Lady Camels an early 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run blast to left. Radford cut the lead to 2-1 on an RBI single by Taylor in the bottom half of the inning. The Lady Camels added three more in the third on a two-out three run homer by Jessica Huffman.

The Highlanders cut the lead to 5-4 in the fifth when Smith lined a two-run homer over the leftfield fence for her record breaking two RBI. It also was her career high ninth this season and her 200th career hit at RU.

Radford down to its last strike in the seventh got a two-out RBI double off the fence by Taylor off of relief pitcher Kelly Weaver, who entered in the fifth after Smith's homer. Carlson scored from second on the play. She singled up the middle with one out and stole second.

In the eighth, Gates singled up the middle with one out to score Stephanie Pappas from third. Pappas was placed on second and was sacrificed to third by Lindsay Landry.

In the bottom of the eighth, junior Amanda Walling (Summerville, S.C.) was place on second and advance to third on a sac bunt by junior Danielle Tompkins (Equality, Ill.). Tompkins reached when the first baseman was unable to field the cleanly. Clayton stepped up and lined a 1-1 pitch to right center for the game-winner.

Felix earned the win in relief of Taylor. In 0.2 innings of work, she gave up a bunt single and struck out two, improving to 25-11. Taylor went 7.1 innings, allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits. She struck out two and walked two.

Caviness suffered the loss, falling to 11-8. She came in to start the eighth, giving up two unearned runs on one hit in 0.1 innings of work. Lexi Myers started for the Camels, giving up four runs on five hits and walking two. Weaver, in relief of Myers, allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and struck out two in 2.2 innings.

For Radford, Taylor was 2-for-4 with two RBI. Gates and Huffman each finished with two hits and three RBI for the Lady Camels. Gates also scored two runs.

Radford will now get set for the Big South Softball Championship next week in Rock Hill, S.C. The Highlanders will enter the tournament as either the No. 1 or 2 seed which begins on Thursday, May 12 and concludes on Saturday, May 14.