LOW MOOR – There’s an old classic saying that the third is the charm.
In their third meeting this season, the Radford Bobcats were finally able to pull off the upset victory over the Alleghany Lady Mountaineers following their 9-7 comeback victory in the first round of the Class 2, Region C softball tournament on Wednesday in Low Moor.
The seventh inning on Wednesday was a moment Radford was all too familiar with. It was less than a week ago that Alleghany rallied in the seventh to win on the road over the Bobcats 8-7. Six days later, it was the Bobcats turn to rewrite the page as they rallied for three runs in seventh to pick up the regional victory in Low Moor.
Radford’s rally started with back-to-back singles from Makaylee Hughes and Kira Rollins. Two batters later, and one down in the inning, Maggie Page delivered a game-tying RBI single.
With the score now tied, two batters later Olivia Radford who had a four-hit day at the plate, had her biggest one of the game as she put the Bobcats ahead 8-7 on an RBI single. The Bobcats would add an insurance run two batters later when Cash threw a wild pitch that allowed Page to score from third base.
Alleghany was looking to pull off their second rally over Radford within a week and came close. The Mountaineers put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh inning but did so with two outs. Down to their final out, Kaylee Nicely hit a sharp line-drive that was caught by second baseman Kathryn Price to end the game.
It was a back-and-forth game that saw multiple lead changes. Alleghany to their only lead of the game in the fifth inning when Kaylee Nicely was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. That put the Mountaineers up 7-6. A few batters prior, Kendell Keene who had a pair of hits, tied the game with an RBI single.
In what could be looked at as a turning point of the game, after Radford scored twice in the top of the first inning, Price who started in the circle for the Bobcats had walked four batters in the first inning. Following her fourth walk which brought in Alleghany’s first run, Price was pulled after getting just two outs in her start. Quinn Burton relieved Price and was able to keep the lead intact for the Bobcats as she was able to get Keene to ground out to end the jam.
Bryce Leitch led Alleghany with a three-hit day at the plate. The loss was charged to Cash who gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits in four relief innings. Cash also walked and struck out one. Keene, who made her final high school start in the loss, suffered a no-decision as she gave up five runs (one earned) in three innings. Keene also struck out three.
The loss on Wednesday ended not only Alleghany’s season, but also closed the chapter on the school’s program. The team finished the 2023 season with a 15-6 overall record.
With the win Radford snapped a 13-game losing streak and improved to 5-14 overall on the season. They will play at Appomattox on Friday where the winner will advance to regional finals.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
RHS 2 2 1 1 0 0 3 9 14 2
AHS 1 1 3 0 2 0 0 7 9 2
Bobcats Box Score
LINEUP AB R H RBI BB SO
Ka. Rollins, CF 4 1 2 0 0 0
Saunders, SS 4 1 2 3 0 0
Hughes, 1B/P 4 2 1 0 0 0
Ki. Rollins, LF 4 1 2 0 0 0
Price, P/2B 4 0 1 2 0 0
Page, 3B 4 2 2 2 0 1
Burton, 2B/P 3 0 0 0 1 1
Radford, C 4 0 4 1 0 0
Burks, RF 4 0 0 0 0 2
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TEAM 35 9 14 8 1 4
PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO
Price (ND) 0.2 0 1 1 4 0
Burton 3.2 6 6 3 2 1
Hughes (W) 2.2 3 0 0 0 0
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TEAM 7 9 7 4 6 1
Mountaineers Box Score
LINEUP AB R H RBI BB SO
Leitch, CF 4 1 3 0 1 0
Kay. Nicely, C 3 0 0 1 0 0
Fridley, 1B 3 0 0 1 1 0
Kel. Nicely, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 1
Cash, SS/P 2 2 1 0 2 0
Middleton, LF 3 1 1 1 1 0
Keene, P/SS 4 1 2 1 0 0
Rice, RF 3 1 2 0 1 0
Skidmore, 2B 4 1 0 0 0 0
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TEAM 30 7 9 4 6 1
PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO
Keene (ND) 3 6 5 1 0 3
Cash (L) 4 8 4 3 1 1
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TEAM 7 14 9 4 1 4
Price, Burton (1), Hughes (5), and Radford. Keene, Cash (4), and Kaylee Nicely. W – Hughes. L – Cash. 2B – RH: Price. AH: Cash. HR – RH: Page. TB – RH: Page 5, Radford 4, Price 2, Saunders 2, Kaydence Rollins 2, Kira Rollins 2, Hughes 1. AH: Leitch 3, Cash 2, Rice 2, Keene 2, Middelton. HBP – AH: Kaylee Nicely 2. SB – Skidmore, and Leitch. E – RH: Radford, and Slate. AH: Kaidence Nicely, and Cash.
