RADFORD, VA - The Gardner-Webb softball team (26-20, 5-8 Big South) dropped its series opener at Radford (20-22, 7-6 Big South) on Friday night, defeated by a 3-0 score

Friday night's game was a true pitcher's dual, with senior right-hander Alli Stidham and Radford's Dakota Redmon going toe to tie. For GWU, Stidham tossed 4.0 innings, allowing just a pair of runs. 

The home-standing Highlanders scored just three runs against the GWU pitching. Radford put runners on base and walked in a run in the first, as Stidham left the bases loaded

Radford's other two runs came in the fourth and fifth innings, both coming on softly hit balls to second base. The Highlanders had just eight hits in the game, both to score runs recorded as infield singles

On offense, the Runnin' Bulldogs posted four hits. Sophomore second baseman Reese Collier recorded two, finishing the game 2-for-3. Senior shortstop Annicka McLaughlin and sophomore pinch hitter Madden McMahan-Waters posted the others

GWU saw its best chance to score in the top of the seventh. Down 3-0, the Runnin' Bulldogs put runners on first and second with just one out, and second and third with two outs. A strikeout looking ended the game

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Gardner-Webb and Radford return to the diamond tomorrow with a 12 pm-2 pm doubleheader to wrap-up the weekend series