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RADFORD, Va. – Fresh of its first Big South Softball Championship, Radford (40-13) will head to Chapel Hill, N.C. and face the sixth overall seed Georgia (39-10) on Thursday, May 14 at 1 p.m. in the 2009 NCAA Championships. The double elimination four-team regional takes place from May 14-16 on the campus of North Carolina.

Tournament Central

“We have had great years before, but this year we finished,” commented Big South Coach of the Year Mickey Dean. “This is a great regional and we are looking forward to it. We have to stay focused and take it one game at a time. The most important thing we have to do is have a good practice tomorrow.”

In the other contest host North Carolina (45-11) will face Atlantic Sun champion Campbell (38-14).

The Highlanders earned the Big South's automatic bid yesterday with a 10-1 victory over Liberty in the title game at RU Softball Field.

Highlighted by tournament MVP Kristen Shifflett's (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello) 4-for-4 outing, which included her school-record 13th long ball of the season, Sarah Himan (Woodbridge, Va./Hylton) and Michelle Beall (Culpeper, Va./Culpeper County) also belted home runs and added three RBI each helping the Highlanders win their first conference championship.

Shifflett, senior Jenn Everhart (Purcellville, Va./Loudoun Valley), sophomore Chelsea Kelley (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring) and freshman Leigh Godfrey (Perth, Australia/Seton Catholic College) were named to the all-tournament team.

Along with the tournament accolades, several Highlanders were recognized by the conference after capturing the regular season championship and tournament's top seed. Kelley and Godrey were named Pitcher and Freshman of the Year. Kelley, Godfrey, Shifflett, Himan and freshman Nichole Beall (Culpeper, Va./Culpeper County) garnered first-team honors, while Everhart and sophomore Shannon Keefe (Lemont Township, Ill./Lemont) were on the second team.

Chapel Hill Regional Schedule
Thursday, May 14
Game 1 - #1 Georgia vs. #4 Radford, 1 p.m.
Game 2 - #2 North Carolina vs. #3 Campbell, 3:30 p.m.

Friday, May 15
Game 3 - Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 4 - Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3:30 p.m.
Game 5 - Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 6 p.m.

Saturday, May 16
Game 6 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 1 p.m.
Game 7 - (if necessary), 3:30 p.m.