Like many great athletes, Radican's parents played a significant role in her development. Mickey Mantle's father famously pitched to his son every night after exhausting sessions in the mines. Her parents never dug for coal, but their white-collar professions of financial advisor (father) and doctor (mother) demanded as much time. However, their professional commitments have never interfered with showing support for their daughter. Even today, the Radicans consistently appear at Bucknell games (home and away) with the best tailgate spread around.

"I can count on one hand the number of games they have missed in my life. Up until college, my parents never missed a practice. Even when I was old enough to drive to practice, my mother still chose to drive me. Softball was a way that we bonded. The best player I could be came from my parents' time and investment."

Like most Bucknell athletes, Radican picked the University along the Susquehanna for its marriage of first-class academics and Division I athletics. Her family prioritized academics, and that lesson distilled itself in the young scholar-athlete. The partnership between Bella and the Orange & Blue has blossomed. The softball team gained a dependable and trustworthy member, and the academic side gained a passionate and intellectual firebrand.

"I wanted a high-academic school where I could have close relationships with my professors. I liked the small class sizes and the community. I loved the campus from my first visit. I knew Bucknell would enrich my college experience."

She might have followed her parents' athletic passions, but Radican blazed a different academic path. The Political Science & History double major is polar opposite of a financial or medical career. Her parents deserve credit for supporting Bella's dreams and not forcing her to follow in their footsteps.

"My father is a financial advisor, and my mother is a doctor. I wanted to do something different. My mother, once, wanted me to go into medicine and inherit her practice, but I knew from a young age I couldn't handle blood. So, medicine was out of the picture. I discovered in high school that I wanted to attend law school. Political Science would set me up for success in law school. I have always had a passion for history. I selected economics as a minor because I enjoyed the classes."

For some college students, an hour in the classroom pushes their educational limits. For Radican, an hour in the classroom isn't enough. She has participated as a research assistant for the history department and a teaching assistant for the economic department.

She worked with Professor Mehmet Dosemeci, assisting his research on the fascinating topic of liberation not via society's movement but through the use of disruption. She began in October 2023, and the focus of her research revolved around locating primary documents.

"It was an era of history that I haven't focused on before. I received the opportunity to study different movements in the United States and overseas and how people fought for change and weren't afraid to challenge the status quo. I picked up research and writing skills that will directly help me."

Professor Dosemeci summarized Radican's involvement. His website and her work on the topic can be found here: disruptnow.org.

"Bella has worked for the past two years on the site - researching various disruptive struggles, creating posts that contextualize and categorize primary documents, many of which she has made available in digitized form for the first time. She has also helped increase its SEO, solicited documents from academics and activists, and kept up with new posts on our social media sites."

Last semester, Radican served as a teaching assistant for Professor Erdogan Bakir's Economics 204: Intermediate Political Economy class. She graded papers, ran review sessions, and met with students outside class. The experience did not immediately lure her into pursuing an academic career, but Professor Radican might still happen decades later.

"I took the same class during my sophomore year. I created their daily writing assignments, held informal office hours, and prepped students for exams. It was a way to give back to a class I greatly enjoyed."

Radican's history advisor is Professor John Enyeart, one of Bucknell's shining minds. A vaunted supporter of his athletic students, Enyeart has attended several of Bella's softball games. In an era where academics and athletes are often pitted as undueling rivals, their relationship showcases how common ground and camaraderie exist. One of Radican's favorite classes was his course on baseball history.

"I decided as a sophomore to double-major in history, and he was assigned as my advisor. I have taken four different classes with him, and this semester, he asked me to do an independent study. I picked the topic. We are looking at the intersection of law and sports throughout history. We have looked at Title IX and NIL. I am doing my history capstone on Title IX, specifically Bucknell."

Enyeart provided a glowing review on Radican and her work:

"Bella is an exceptional student who I have been lucky to have in four of my classes (2-200 levels, 1 300 level, and an independent study). Bella is always prepared for class, provides insightful comments, and asks provocative questions. She has the essential attribute of continuously relating weekly readings to the larger themes of the courses. Furthermore, she is passionate about the study of history. She just finished an assignment for me about Title IX and the expansion of women's sports. Among other important points, Bella demonstrated how women's athletic skills changed spectators’ minds, especially men, about women's athletic abilities. Her work is wonderfully sophisticated and well researched, and because of her passion for researching and writing, she will become an excellent lawyer if that is indeed the path she chooses to follow (as she expects to now)."

Many students spend summer break recharging and relaxing after nine grueling months of coursework. For Radican, summer break meant heading overseas to participate in progressive programs or interning with political lobbyists and lawyers. The concept of downtime is utterly foreign to the ambitious go-getter.

In May of 2023, right after Bucknell softball completed its first Patriot League Tournament since 2019, Radican boarded a plane. Her destination? South Africa to work with Khaltsha Cycles, a start-up designed to break down the barriers installed by Apartheid. She always wanted to study abroad, but her athletic commitments meant the summer months were the only open slots.

"One of my economic professors (Erdogan Bakir) was running the program. He mentioned it in class, and I knew I wanted to participate. We attended classes at the University of Cape Town. The point of the trip was learning about the economic effects of Apartheid. Social businesses are helping these communities. I worked at the bike shop, and one of the programs is having a women's cycling team. I believe in the power of women athletics."

It wasn't all work and student consulting. Radican went on safari, hiked up a mountain, and plunged into shark cage diving. Bella was face-to-face with a great white shark, who decided to tap his nose on the cage!

"South Africa was such a unique experience. Not only did I see all the tourist spots, but I also met the local people. It was an enriching trip."

Radican refused to rest after her Alan Quartermaine adventure. Immediately after returning to the States, she interned with Forbes Tate Partners. Radican attended and reported on congressional hearings, wrote legislative and policy analyses, and researched clients' interests.

"It began the day after I got back. I was still jet-lagged. I wanted to try the political route because of my interest in law. The opportunity to see Capitol Hill and attend White House briefings was great. They gave me plenty of opportunities to write directly to clients."

Last summer, she remained closer to home, but her internship did not lack for excitement. Radican spent the summer interning in Judge James E. Plowman's Loundon County Circuit County chambers. The rising senior served as a summer clerk, assisted in legal research, reviewed the Virginia Code, drafted daily dockets, and participated in other crucial minutiae. If you ever need a speeding ticket debated in Virginia, call Ms. Radican!

"It was such a unique experience. I was the only undergraduate intern - the rest were law students. I was in the chambers with the judges and assisting in research. I observed courtroom procedure, and it peaked my interest in law."

All this focus on her academic pursuits belies her success on the diamond. Radican played a key role in Bucknell's 2024 season, where she hit a career high (.262) and provided clutch hits during the stretch run. She fielded a flawless 1.000 in conference play, powering the Bison to a 9-9 mark against circuit foes - the best record in years. The second baseman batted .500 (4 of 8) in the Patriot League Tournament and made the All-Tournament Team.

The 2025 season hasn't seen the same amount of success yet, but Bella did hammer her first collegiate home run with a towering blast over the right-field wall against Southland Conference powerhouse McNeese State. Her joyous celebration around the bases rivaled Bill Mazeroski's skyward triumph in the 1960 World Series.

"Right now, we aren't having a good season, but the best is yet to come. But every year, we have kept getting better, and last year, we won our first tournament game (1-0 over Lehigh) since 2019. I have played different roles and will do anything for the team."

Head coach Sarah Caffrey recruited Radican and showered her player with effusive praise:

"Bella has a work ethic that is unmatched. I have never coached someone so dedicated to her work and being disciplined with getting things done. She always has been super prepared for anything that is asked of her, and she just has an easy disposition about her. I am so proud of what Bella has done not only for the team in her time here but the culture of the program that she will leave behind. She is an extremely hard worker, and it has been such a pleasure to watch her grow over the last four years. She is someone you can rely on to get the job done when her name is called, and I am so grateful that she chose Bucknell."

Senior captain and ace pitcher Madison Roukey has relied on Bella Radican to provide stalwart defense at second and third base. A good pitcher always acknowledges his or her defenders, and Roukey exhumes appreciation and sunshine.

"Bella brings a bright and enthusiastic energy to softball every day. She is a gritty player and super fun to watch in the field, and it’s been huge having her step up at second base the past few seasons. Pitching with her behind you brings an extra level of trust and confidence in our defense, and she makes us better!"

Fellow senior and fiery captain MaKenzie Hilling demands high standards for herself and the team. The first baseman can rely on Bella providing accurate pegs to her massive orange glove.

"Bella is a pivotal senior this year with her ability to reach everyone on the team. She can reach people in every class to get them bought into the team. As for her presence on the field, I think her carefree personality has alleviated pressure for this team. She has played an outstanding second base for us the past two years. Overall, I think her influence is the joy she has while playing on the field while getting things done at a high level."

Her softball career hasn't been restricted to the United States. During high school, she traveled to the Netherlands for a softball tournament. The situation was not bizarre to the Radican clan. Their passports are well-used, having journeyed to Iceland, Cyprus, Hungary, and Slovakia. Instead of material goods, their parents gift experiences. The softball tournament exemplifies their philosophy of loving to travel.

"We played in an indoor complex in Rotterdam and then went to Amsterdam. We played teams from the Czech Republic, Italy, and the host country."

Radican's talents are not confined to the classroom and softball diamond. She holds a musical bent, tickling the ivories like Ronnie Milsap and playing the guitar like Jerry Reed. Radican competed in piano competitions before college and plans to resume her activities after graduation.

"Something that a lot of people at Bucknell don’t know about me is how important music is in my life. My mom has played the piano her whole life and passed that love on to me. I started piano lessons when I was four years old and have been playing ever since. Over the years, I’ve performed in numerous ensemble festivals, competitions, and recitals."