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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Radford topped the Virginia softball team (7-18, 2-4 ACC) 5-2 Saturday in the 2008 Cavalier Classic at The Park. Third-year right fielder Sarah Tackle hit her third home run of the season and led the Cavaliers with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
Virginia, which was the visiting team on the scoreboard, tallied its runs in the top of the fourth and the top of the seventh. UVa totaled four hits, two from Tacke and singles from fifth-year Meghan O’Leary and first-year Alison Pittman. The Cavaliers also committed one error.
Radford, meanwhile, scored its five runs on eight hits while also committing an error. Kristen Shifflett led the Highlanders, going 2-for-3 at the plate while Hope Creasy hit a two-run homer to center and finished with three RBI on the afternoon.
First-year Allee Rife (2-5) took the loss in the circle for Virginia. Rife went two innings and allowed three runs, all earned, on three hits. Veterans Whitney Holstun and Karla Wilburn also came on in relief for the Orange and Blue, each allowing a run.
Ashley Taylor (10-4) threw a complete game for the Highlanders, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and 12 strikeouts.
Radford (19-7) got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the second inning off the Creasy two-run shot to center field. The Highlanders added another in the bottom of the third after a RBI single by Cassie Rhodes.
Virginia answered in the top of the fourth. Pittman led off the inning with an infield single and quickly there were runners on first and second after Kelly Haller was hit by a pitch. When Carly Winger laid down a sacrifice bunt, the throw to first was overthrown and Pittman scored on the play. The Cavaliers were in good shape with runners on second and third with still no outs, but back-to-back strikeouts and a groundout ended the rally.
Radford added runs in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings and led 5-1 leading into the final inning. Virginia got one back in the top half of the seventh when Tacke blasted a one-out homer to center. O’Leary and Pittman both struck out to end the game.
In other Cavalier Classic action from Saturday, Ohio defeated Georgetown 5-2; Georgetown beat Rutgers 4-2; and Radford knocked off Ohio 2-1.
The Cavalier Classic concludes Saturday with four games. Virginia will play Rutgers in the first game at 10 a.m. before taking on Ohio at 3 p.m.