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ATHENS, Ga. – Radford's most successful season in program history came to an end Sunday afternoon as it fell 8-1 to host and No. 9 Georgia in the Athens Regional final of the 2010 NCAA Softball Championship.

Following a come-from-behind victory against No. 24 Florida State to advance to the final, the Highlanders (38-17) fell into an early 4-0 hole to the Bulldogs (46-11) that they could not climb out off. It ended the deepest run in school history as the Highlanders became the first Radford program to play in a NCAA regional final.

Despite the loss, the regional runner-up set team and individual records and a Big South team mark. The Highlanders finished with a team and Big South record 74 home runs. Radford set several of these records despite playing the fewest games (55) since 2003 (54). Along with long balls they also set single-season team marks for batting average, (.318), RBI (270) slugging (.541) and field percentage (.971).

Kristen Shifflett, Taylor Cunningham and Michelle Beall each had two of Radford's nine hits. Lauren Williams knocked in Radford lone run with a second inning double.

Shifflett ended the season with a .426 batting average, second best in school history, and is just the third Highlander to record a .400-plus average. She set the career record for runs (150) and recorded her 200th and 201st hits today, the first player to reach 200 base knocks in her junior season. This season her 139 total bases and .760 slugging percentage are new single-season marks.

In the circle, freshman Jackie Jenkins had a strong outing in four innings of relief, which was her second longest stint of the year. She allowed just two runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts and zero walks.

Senior Sarah Himan, who singled in the sixth, finished her career second all time with 243 base knocks. She also was second in RBI (142), doubles (46) and total bases (376), along with third in batting average (.345).

The best all-around catcher in school history, Himan 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.

Georgia struck for two runs in the first. With one out Megan Wiggins took the first pitch over the right centerfield fence. A double by Alisa Goler, followed by a RBI triple by Brianna Hesson made it 2-0. After a pitching change, Kellie Snooks got out of it with a ground back to the box and a sliding catch by rightfielder Hope Creasy.

Creasy finished her Radford career second in home runs (32), fourth in RBI (133), fifth in total bases (338), seventh in slugging (.514) and eighth in doubles (36).

Radford stranded a runner at third in the bottom of the first. Shifflett led off with a double to right center. With one out, Shifflett stole third when the catcher tried to pick her off second. However Sarah McCloud struck out the next two batters to end the threat and finished the frame striking out the side.

The Bulldogs took advantage of an error on the leadoff batter to add two unearned runs in the second. Laura Trout beat out a grounder to third that was bobbled. Following a fielder's choice, double by Ashley Pauly and a walk, Megan Wiggins' infield single scored the first run and a sac fly by Goler pushed the lead to 4-0.

The Highlanders, courtesy of a two-out RBI double by Williams, got on the board in the second. With one out, back-to-back singles by Beall and Cunningham put runners at first and second. McCloud would record the second out with another strikeout, but Williams took a 1-0 pitch and pulled it just inside the rightfield line plating Beall from second.

Three doubles to start the fourthplated two more runs for Georgia. Pauly Taylor Schlopy and Wiggins doubled with the latter two each knocking in a run. Jenkins entered the game for Radford and retired the heart of the order (Goler, Hesson and Kristyn Sandburg) to prevent more damage.

Chelsea Kelley started lasted just a third of an inning (two runs, three hits). Snooks surrendered four runs, two earned, on six hits with a walk in 2.2 innings.

A run in the sixth made it 8-1, but the highlight of the inning was a pair of strikeouts by Jenkins fanning Schlopy and pinch hitter Jennie Auger.

Sarah McCloud picked up the win for the Bulldogs, scattering seven hits and allowing a run with seven strikeouts in six innings. Erin Arevalo tossed the seven giving up a pair of hits and striking out two.

Radford Head Coach Mickey Dean
Opening Statement…
"You know, this has been a great experience for us. You have to start climbing the mountain to get to the top. Our seniors have really done a great job building this program to the point that it has gotten to and we can look forward to even more success in the future because of what they have built. Georgia is a just a great team that keeps coming at you and their 1-4 is pretty tough. We had a lot of hits but just left too many people in scoring position and that was the story of the game.”

On game plan…
"When Florida State was scoring their runs, they were hitting the ball in front of us so we needed to make defensive changes. Today, Georgia was just hitting the ball hard so we needed to make pitching changes. We were fully ready to make a change every two innings if that was needed to keep their hitters off balance. Their 1-4 hitters are as good as any I have ever seen. We've faced good hitting teams, but getting through the top of their lineup was difficult without giving up any runs. "

On his team's success this year…
"This team has done what we've needed to do all year. How can you not be proud of this team? The things that we've done this year and the accomplishments that we've had this year are reason enough to be proud. "

Radford shortstop, #10 Kristen Shifflett
On looking forward to next year …
"We need to work hard starting right now. The seniors have really showed us how to work and play the right way. We've learned that we can compete with the bigger teams and play at their level. We just have to keep working and building on the success that we've had next year."

Radford outfielder, #22 Hope Creasy
On the state of the Radford program …
"The program is definitely going in the right direction. You have to keep adding things to the lineup and making this team yours. This team is different from last year's team and will be different from next year's team. You just have to keep working hard, and I believe that this team will continue to play well for years to come."

Georgia Head Coach Lu Harris-Champer
Opening Statement…
"We played as a unit today. We were able to control the tempo both on offense and defense. I am really proud of this team. At this level, you have to find ways to manufacture runs. You score in any way you can."

On Radford…
"They are an outstanding team. They play with grit and determination and are obviously well coached. They play the game the way it should be played."

Georgia left fielder, #25 Megan Wiggins
On her first at-bat home run…
"In the first inning, I went out and had nothing to lose. I was just swinging hard. I always do what it takes to win."

On teamwork…
"Our goal has always been to play together and we did that today. Just like last year when I was coming back from injury, my teammates were supporting me, and I did all I could to support them. We banded together and fought however we could."

Georgia pitcher, #5 Sarah McCloud
On her performance…
"I didn't worry about the runners. My focus was the location of my pitches and the player at the plate. Radford came out swinging. I tried to hit my spots and make them miss."

Georgia second baseman, #10 Ashley Pauly
On the team's extra base hits…
"From the beginning, we came out hacking. When we saw the ball fall into the gaps in the outfield, we ran for extra bases. That's all there was to it."