In 2010, Radford Softball continued its trend of improvement that has been a staple of the program for several years. The two-time Big South champions climbed several more rungs on the ladder when they reached the finals of the Athens, Ga. Regional, a first for any Highlander athletic program, and finished the season with a vote in the final USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll.
Along with several memorable moments and the shattering of several school records in 2010, Radford’s current four-year run under head coach Mickey Dean has accumulated 169 victories, averaging 42 per season. Tack on the 79 victories from the previous two years and the Highlanders are the winningest (248-121/.672) Division I program in the state of Virginia since 2005.
2010 Team Highlights
- Received a vote in final USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll (
also received two votes in May 4 poll)
- Faced No. 9 and host Georgia in NCAA Regional Final after topping No. 24 Florida State, 3-2 (
story)
- Win over Seminoles is second over ranked opponent in two seasons and highest in school history (
story)
- Finished with its highest end of season RPI of 40
- Four Highlanders recieve All-Regional honors (
story)
- Radford wins back-to-back Big South championships with 5-2 win over Winthrop (
story)
- Seven Highlanders earn all-conference recognition with Dean and Shifflett taking home top honors (
story)
- Radford featured on ESPNU for fourth straight season and remained undefeated with 5-0 victory at Winthrop on April 25 (
story)
- Clinched second straight outright league regular season with victory
- Highlanders knock off North Carolina, 5-4 in eight innings, to earn first program victory over Tar Heels (
story)
- Hit school and Big South record 74 home runs
- 9-3 triumph on senior night over Virginia Tech concluded Radford’s first perfect home season at 16-0 (
story)
- Participates in prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic to start season
- Finishes season ranked 37th or better in nine NCAA statistical categories (
NCAA page)
Highlanders in the Headlines
As the success of Radford softball has grown, so has the coverage of local and national media. The Highlanders benefited with front page headlines and were also featured nationally by ESPNU and ESPN.com. Here are links to some of those features.
George Bulldogs End Radford's Season (The season is over, but the light bulb is on....) by Mark Berman (Roanoke Times) - May 23
Radford Shock Florida State by Mark Berman (Roanoke Times) - May 22
Valuable Addition: Shifflett Leads Radford Softball by Mark Berman (Roanoke Times) - May 21
Making her Daddy Proud by Mark Berman (Roanoke Times) - May 13
Radford's Keefe Honors Dad's Memory by Graham Hays (ESPN.com) - April 28
Repaying the Support by Mark Berman (Roanoke Times) - April 15
RU Junior Seeks Consistency, Title by Chuck Altizer (special to Roanoke Times) - April 2
Individual Highlights
Senior Catcher Sarah Himan (Woodbridge, Va./Hylton)
(First team all-conference and all-region)
Leaves Radford as the program’s best all-around catcher…
(2010) Ranked in the Big South top five in batting average, doubles, RBI, hits, slugging, total bases and fewest strikeouts and top 10 in home runs and on-base percentage… Recorded game-winning hit in NCAA Regionals vs. No. 24 Florida State... Reached base safely in 30-consecutive games (3/13-4/24) and 48-of-55 (42 with hits) this season… 13-game (.442) and 11-game (.500) hitting streaks…
(Career) Three-time first team all-conference and two time first team all-region… As a four-year starter, she finished her career second all-time with 243 hits, 142 RBI, 46 doubles and 376 total bases… Also finished career ranked in batting average (3rd/.345), on base pct. (5th/.391), home runs (6th/25), slugging (6th/.533), walks (t8th/56) and runs (9th/105)… Set a school record with a career .994 fielding percentage, including a perfect 1.000 (233 attempts) this season, a first for any player with 75 or more attempts.
Senior Rightfielder Hope Creasy (Christiansburg, Va./Christiansburg)
(Big South Woman of the Year; First team all-conference and all-region)
(2010) Ranked in the top 10 in the league in home runs (t-4th), slugging (5th), runs (t-9th), total bases (9th) and RBIs (t-9th)… ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team selection… Two-time league player of the week (3/15 & 4/19)… Registered a pair of multi-home run contests, against Albany and Charleston Southern… (
Career) Two-time first team all-conference (‘08 & ’10)… Four-year starter… Broke Radford’s career home run mark (32) and finished career ranked second all-time with 32… Also ranked in RBI (4th/133), total bases (5th/338), slugging (7th/.514), doubles (t8th/36), hits (t8th/196) and walks (10th/50).
Junior Shortstop Kristen Shifflett (Charlottesville, Va./Monticello)
(Big South Player of the Year and Tournament MVP; first team all-region)
Radford’s new all-time leader in home runs (36) and runs scored (150) after just three seasons… Also became the first Highlander to record 200 hits (201) before their senior season… Batted .615 (8-13) with a double, two home runs (both vs. No. 24 FSU), four RBIs and 1.154 slugging and .615 on-base percentages at NCAA Regionals... In 3-2 Regional win over FSU, hit game-tying long ball and then scored game-winning run, helping RU to Regional finals... Led league in batting average, runs, hits, slugging, on base, total bases and stolen bases and ranked second (tie) in home runs, third in doubles (tie) and fourth (tie) in RBI… Ranked nationally in runs per game (13th), batting average (18th), slugging (29th), home runs (48th) and HR/game (42nd).
Junior Centerfielder Shannon Keefe (Lemont Township, Ill./Lemont)
(First team all-conference and second team all-region)
Made a pair of defensive gems that resulted in all three seventh-inning outs of Big South championship game… Robbed a leadoff home run and then snagged a sinking line drive and doubled off the runner at second for the final out… Led team in doubles, second in stolen bases and third in batting average … Tied for league lead and 32nd in the nation in doubles… Ranked in top 10 in batting average (7th) and stolen bases (t-5th)… Season-high 13-game hitting streak (3/18-4/2) … Just one of two outfielders in Big South with 50-plus chances that recorded a perfect fielding percentage.
Junior Pitcher Chelsea Kelley (Roanoke, Va./Cave Spring)
(First Team All-Conference; Big South All-Academic Squad)
Overall league leader in wins (28th NCAA) and appearances, tied for second in shutouts, third in innings pitched and fifth in opponents batting average… Tossed four one-hit shutouts and five overall… Also allowed just one hit in a 6.2-inning shutout relief appearance vs. PC … Fourth one-hitter came in regionals vs. Elon.
Junior Leftfielder Lauren Williams (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge)
(Second team all-conference)
A threat from the nine-spot, posted career highs in several offensive categories… Led team and finished third in the league in triples… Third on team and eighth in the league in stolen bases… Threw out game-tying run (final out of game) at third in seventh inning against Florida State advancing Radford to regional final… Tallied RBI double in Regional finals vs. Georgia… Swiped two bases in regional opener versus Florida State... Keyed Radford’s comeback extra-inning victory at North Carolina in both halves of seventh inning… Registered two-out game-tying single and then delivered a strike to nail the winning run at home plate in the bottom half to preserve the tie and send game into extra innings... Finished 56th nationally in toughest to strikeout.
Sophomore Second Baseman Nichole Beall (Culpeper/Culpeper County)
(First Team All-Conference)
Set Radford single-season home run mark with 18… Big South All-Tournament selection… Led Big South in home runs, ranking 18th (per game) & 20th (overall) nationally… Hit pair of long balls in NCAA Regional win vs. Elon and broke school record with 10 total bases... Batted .417 (5-12) with three runs and four RBIs in NCAA Regionals... Second in Big South in slugging, total bases, fourth in runs scored and also top 10 in RBIs, on base percentage and hits…
Hit walk-off home run in 11-10 win over Presbyterian… NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament team, batting .467 (7-15) with four home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored.
Junior Pitcher Kellie Snooks (Alsip, Ill./Marist)
Big South all-tournament selection after six-inning shutout relief performance in championship game…
Tossed first collegiate no-hitter vs. Kent State in Highlander Classic championship game… Faced minimum amount of batters as leadoff batter who reach on error was erased on double play... Big South Pitcher of the Week... Ranked 11th in fewest walks per seven innings.
Junior Third Baseman Taylor Cunningham (Fairfax, Va./Robinson Secondary)
Big South all-tournament selection… Batted .444 with three runs and two RBI, while recording a perfect fielding percentage at Big South Tournament… Knocked in game-winning run in Big South semifinal victory against Winthrop... Started game-winning rally with RBI double in second inning of championship game… Registered two hits in NCAA Regional final at Georgia.
Sophomore Designated Player Meredith Moore (Roanoke, Va/Cave Spring)
Delivered game-winning double in Big South Championship game…
Launched game-winning two-out grand slam in game three against Presbyterian… Hit game-tying long ball in seventh inning against then-No. 4 Missouri’s Chelsea Thomas… 16 of 28 hits were for extra bases.
Sophomore First Baseman Michelle Beall (Culpeper/Culpeper County)
One of four Highlanders to start every game… Hit five home runs, including go-ahead shots in win at North Carolina and two in a doubleheader at Appalachian State… 3-for-8 with an RBI in NCAA Regionals, recording two hits in regional final against No. 9 Georgia.
Head Coach Mickey Dean
(Big South Coach of the Year)
Won 200th career game with 3-1 victory over Villanova… Teams have averaged 42 wins last four seasons