BOX SCORE

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Top-seeded Radford was upended by Liberty, 3-1, in the 2011 Big South Championship Game presented by Musco Lighting, Saturday afternoon from Terry Field on the campus of Winthrop University.

Tournament MVP Tiffani Smith (12-12) held the Highlanders (38-21) four hits and struck out three, while walking five.

The Lady Flames (30-28) scored three runs in the first four innings and held on for the title.

Liberty combined two hits and a walk to grab a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. With the bases loaded and one out, Ashley Bensinger knocked in the first run with a sac fly to the warning track in center.

A leadoff home run by Sammi Shivock and a two-out RBI single by Jenny Law extended Liberty lead to 3-0 in the fourth.

The Highlanders had opportunities to get to Smith early, but could not take advantage of five free passes in the first four innings.

Radford got on the board in the fifth with its first two hits of the contest. Lauren Williams led off with an infield single. With two outs and Williams on second, Taylor Cunningham singled sharply up the middle, cutting the lead to 3-1.

The Highlanders attempted to rally in the seventh putting runners on first and second on singles by Jessie Hutchens and Kristen Shifflett but a pop up and a force out at third ended the threat.

Chelsea Kelley suffered the defeat. Kelley (6-8) started and allowed three runs on six hits in 3.2 innings. Stephanie Dameron closed out the final 3.1 innings, scattering hits and allowing Radford to have a chance at the end.

Shifflett, Cunningham and Kelley were named to the all-tournament team.

“We battled all day and I felt very comfortable the entire game,” said head coach Mickey Dean. “It showed in the last inning as we had a chance. Liberty is a very good team and it was a great battle. We know each other so well.

"You will not find a better senior class in the country than this. I've never felt so lucky in my life to coach these ladies,” stated Dean.

Radford's senior class of Kelley, Shifflett, Cunningham, Williams, Shannon Keefe and Kellie Snooks posted a remarkable 163-68 (.706) record and an astounding 59-10 (.855) mark in Big South regular season contests between 2008 and 2011.

They won three Big South regular season championships, two conference tournaments and keyed Radford to its first ever NCAA win in 2009 and regional final appearance in 2010.