Saturday, May 15, 2010

DeLAND, Fla. – No. 1 Lipscomb won its first Atlantic Sun Conference Softball Championship with an 11-0 win against No. 4 USC Upstate, Saturday at Patricia Wilson Field.

The Tournament's Most Valuable Player Kellie Sirus once again proved the difference-maker for the Lady Bisons, as the senior sparked the Lipscomb offense in the bottom of the first frame with a patriotic three-run home run past the flag pole in center field. The Sarasota, Fla. native collected five home runs during the three days of tournament play.

In the bottom of the second inning, a single into right field from senior Lauren Dortwegt sent sophomore Caroline Mason home, soon followed by junior Mackenzie Tucker's RBI single, which brought Kiihnl around to score. Sirus also made a strong showing in the second frame with a two-RBI single to right field, which brought Dortwegt around.

In the third inning, a Mason RBI double to center field sent sophomore Mollie Mitchell around to home plate to complete the Lady Bisons' scoring until the bottom of the fourth when an RBI-single from sophomore Courtney Billington sparked a 4-0 Lipscomb run.

Today marked the first time the eight-run rule applied to an A-Sun Softball Championship round game. Lipscomb's Whitney Kiihnl took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth inning and ended the contest with a two-hit shutout. The junior hurler from Batesville, Miss. also collected three K's on the day and allowed one walk.

USC Upstate made an A-Sun Softball Championship game appearance in its first year of postseason eligibility. Junior pitcher Morgan Childers finished the 2010 season with 429 K's, just eight shy of the single-season record set by FAU's Nicole Myers.

With the win, the 2010 Champion Lady Bisons earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament; their first in program history. Lipscomb will learn its destination in the NCAA Tournament during the selection show airing on ESPNU, Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.

Softball All-Tournament Team

Kellie Sirus (Lipscomb) – Most Valuable Player

Keeli Michael (Campbell)
Kayla Ouellet (Jacksonville)
Ashlee Burkett (Kennesaw State)
Jessica Cross (Kennesaw State)
Amanda Lindsey (Stetson)
Jill Semento (Stetson)
Kim Brasil (USC Upstate)
Morgan Childers (USC Upstate)
Lauren Quevedo (USC Upstate)
Whitney Kiihnl (Lipscomb)

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.