RADFORD, Va. – Morgan Strickland tossed a one-hitter, and Brooke Bennett and Maggie Hiatt delivered some big swings to lift Longwood softball to a doubleheader split on Saturday afternoon at Radford.
 
The Lancers (13-23, 7-4 Big South) won the second game 3-1 in a pitcher's duel after Radford (23-20, 8-3 Big South) won the opener 8-0 in six innings.
 
Bennett and Hiatt had home runs in the second game for the Lancers to lead the offense in the win after Radford's Dakota Redmon cruised to the win in the circle in the first game.
 
"I was proud of our response in game two," said Longwood Head Coach Dr. Megan Brown. "We had lots of good lessons from game one. We will have to come out for a tough fight tomorrow."
 
The two sides will play the deciding game of the series on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m., and the game will air on ESPN+.
 
Game 1: Radford 8, Longwood 0
 
Redmon was excellent in game one for the Highlanders, blanking a Longwood offense that came in having swatted eight home runs in its previous six games.
 
She struck out 10 against two hits and a walk in six innings, facing only four batters more than the minimum.
 
The Radford offense took advantage of Longwood mistakes to plate three runs, all unearned in the second inning.
 
Amanda Lee and Cassi Barbato led the way for Radford with two base hits apiece while Kelly Feigen and Grace Bechtol drove in two runs each.
 
Redmon (13-6) got the win in the circle, and Maggie Chapin (7-10) took the loss for the Lancers.
 
Game 2: Longwood 3, Radford 1
 
The second game was a pitcher's duel, as the two offenses combined for a total of six hits. Strickland retired six straight for the Lancers, but Morgan Cooper returned the favor by retiring Longwood in order through three innings.
 
Amanda Lee doubled in a run for Radford in the third, but that was the lone hit of the day for the Highlanders.
 
Strickland was untouchable from that point on. She set down 13 straight through the end of the game, retiring the side in order from the fourth through the seventh innings.
 
Longwood's offense, meanwhile, got to work in the fourth to answer Radford's run. Avery Drake snapped a one-out single to center, and then Bennett blasted her third home run of the season. The two-run shot to right-center put the team up 2-1, and then Hiatt swatted her home run to left to make it 3-1.
 
Strickland (3-5) picked up the win, giving up one run on one hit and a walk while striking out one in seven innings.
 
Morgan Cooper (8-9) took the loss for Radford. She gave up three runs on five hits without a walk while striking out five in seven innings.
 
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