Box Score | Highlights

ATHENS, Ga. – No. 24 Florida State used two five-run innings to defeat Radford, 10-1, in game one of the NCAA's Athens, Ga. Regional from UGA Softball Stadium.

Radford will face No. 4 seed Elon, who dropped a 10-4 decision to Georgia, at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow in the loser's bracket.

The game got off to a promising start as Big South Player of the Year Kristen Shifflett launched a long leadoff home run over the scoreboard in left to give the Highlanders an early 1-0 lead. It was the 14th of the season for Shifflett and the 70th team long ball, marking the second straight season with 70 home runs (71 in 2009).

A five-run, seven-hit first inning by the Seminoles erased the Highlanders' early 1-0 advantage. Two singles, followed by a two-run triple by Shayla Jackson put FSU on the board. With one out, Ashley Stager made it 4-1 with a two-run home run over the scoreboard. After a pitching change, three singles, the third by Morgan Bullock, pushed it to 5-1.

The Highlanders got out of trouble in the second. Following an error that put runners on first and third, FSU tried to take second when the ball went back to the pitching circle. Kellie Snooks threw to second baseman Nichole Beall, who walked the runner back to first. At the last second Beall rifled the ball to third and Taylor Cunningham slapped the tag for the second out of the inning.

In the third, Lauren Williams put herself into scoring position with one out, but Radford was unable to capitalize. After she singled and stole second, Sarah Hamilton struck out Shifflett. She would steal third during Beall's at bat, but was left stranded as Hamilton recorded her seventh strikeout.

FSU added five more in the third on seven hits. Jen Lapicki led off with a home run just over the wall in left. With one out, an illegal pitch negated the second out and Kristie McConn would walk on the next pitch. The Noles took advantage with six straight singles to tack on four more.

A double by Shannon Keefe with one out in the fourth put another runner in scoring position. However, she was doubled off second when centerfielder Shayla Jackson made a diving catch on shallow blooper.

Williams, Keefe and Shifflett recorded the lone hits for the Highlanders.

Chelsea Kelley started and lasted just a third of an inning. She surrendered four runs on four hits. Snooks allowed six runs on nine hits with a strike out. Freshman Jackie Jenkins provided 1.2 innings of shutout relief. She allowed three hits.

Sarah Hamilton and Terese Gober combined on the five-inning three-hitter. Hamilton started and went the first three frames with seven strikeouts, while allowing just two hits. Gober tossed the final two. She surrendered one hit, struck out two and walked one.

The Seminoles pounded out a season-high 16 hits led by Tiffani Brown's 3-for-3 performance.

Radford Head Coach Mickey Dean
Opening Statement…
"They outhit us and outpitched us. It doesn't get simpler than that. Our first hitter gets up there and hits a home run and then they struck out seven in a row after that. Their hitters just did what they were supposed to do. They swung through the ball and hit line drives. We just have to be more disciplined tomorrow and challenge the pitcher. We weren't able to do that today. We just have to come out sharper tomorrow."

On team's play …
"We just didn't perform. Regionals are about coming out and playing hard. You could take a look at our swings and tell that we were over-swinging. It took two innings for us to calm our hitters and get them into the right mindset to hit. We need to start playing with passion rather than playing with emotion. Their hitters just did what they were supposed to do. They swung through the ball and hit line drives. We just have to come out sharper tomorrow. "

Radford Shortstop, #10 Kristen Shifflett
On team's approach …
"You've got to be disciplined and get ahead. Things just didn't go our way today. We just need to learn from today and tomorrow will be a new day for our hitters and pitchers.

Radford Pitcher, #9 Kellie Snooks
On Florida State's approach …
“I definitely thought that they were aggressive, but if you don't throw the ball where you want it, the hits will fall in. We left the ball high today, and they hit it. We need to come out tomorrow and do a better job with that."

Florida State Head Coach Lonni Alameda
Opening Statement…
"It was nice to be able to come out and hit like we hit in this first game. This was a lot of fun today and that is the key this time of year. Hitting is contagious and when we feel like we get into that rhythm, that's a good feeling. But tomorrow is a new day and we will have to be just as prepared.”

On Radford . . .
“We had heard a lot about Radford coming into this Regional so to be able to come out and get the job done like we did was satisfying.”

On Florida State getting to batting practice late . . .
“I guess the key for us is coming late to batting practice. We got hung up getting lunch after they kind of got overwhelmed with our order but we have a loose team and they responded pretty well. All of our girls ended up getting in about three cuts rather than the usual 45 or so cuts we usually get and we ended up doing O.K.”

Florida State pitcher, #25 Sarah Hamilton
On her team scoring five runs in the bottom of the first inning…
"As a pitcher, getting five runs from your team in the first inning is great. I gave up that opening home run on the first batter and after that, I wanted to get ahead of the batter. Once I figured out that they were aggressive, I decided to start flipping my change to keep them off-balance.”

Florida State right fielder, #14 Shayla Jackson
On Florida State's key to winning…
"We've learned that we can't keep teams in games with us so after they scored their run in the first, we had to come back and take over the inning and then the game.”