CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Liberty’s Kelly Strickland has been named the Big South Conference Choice Hotels softball Player of the Week, while Chelsea Kelley of Radford was tabbed New Balance Pitcher of the Week, the League announced today.

Strickland, a freshman from Tabor City, N.C., posted a .389 average, four home runs and nine RBI to lead the Lady Flames to three Big South wins over the weekend and the No. 3 seed in this week’s Big South Softball Championship presented by Texas Roadhouse.  She posted back-to-back multi-home run games on May 1 and 2.  During the six games she played in, Strickland posted seven hits, two multi-hit games and three doubles.  The honor marks her first Player of the Week selection this season.

Kelley, a sophomore from Roanoke, Va., notched a 1.12 ERA as she went 3-0 last week.  She pitched 18.2 innings and recorded nine strikeouts.  Her win over Liberty on April 28 clinched the Highlanders’ first-ever Big South Regular Season Championship.  Kelley pitched two complete games on the week and allowed just three earned runs in four appearances.  The honor marks her First Pitcher of the Week plaudit this season.

Also nominated for softball Player of the Week for Week 13:  Leigh Godfrey (Radford).

Also nominated for softball Pitcher of the Week for Week 13: Tiffani Smith (Liberty)


2009 Softball Player of the Week
Feb. 10 - Gail Matsushima, Charleston Southern
Feb. 17 - Amanda Miller, Presbyterian
Feb. 24 - Christa Fullwood, Gardner-Webb
Mar. 3 - Ashlee Revell, Winthrop
Mar. 9 - Kristen Shifflett, Radford
Mar. 17 - Sarah Himan, Radford
Mar. 23 - Kristen Shifflett, Radford
Mar. 30 - Leigh Godfrey, Radford
April 6 - Nichole Beall, Radford
April 13 - Lisa Kingsmore, Winthrop
April 20 - Michelle Beall, Radford
April 27 - Shannon Keefe, Radford
May 4 - Kelly Strickland, Liberty

2009 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 10 - Sondra Vetter, Charleston Southern
Feb. 17 - Megan Evans, Winthrop
Feb. 24 - Leslie Hensley, Presbyterian
Mar. 3 - Tiffani Smith, Liberty
Mar. 9 - Kellie Snooks, Radford
Mar. 17 - Sarah Ellis, Liberty
Mar. 23 - Mary Gordon, Presbyterian
Mar. 30 - Sondra Vetter, Charleston Southern
April 6 - Christine Murray, Gardner-Webb
April 13 - Tiffani Smith, Liberty
April 20 - Christine Murray, Radford
April 27 - Cari Wooldridge, Winthrop
May 4 - Chelsea Kelley, Radford