HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton University sophomore Kelsei Saunders was named All-State Second Team in softball by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) on Friday.

Saunders, a two-time First Team All-MEAC selection, led the team with a .348 batting average during the regular season in 55 games, and she led the MEAC in home runs with 11. Her 48 RBI were a team high and the second-most in the conference, and Saunders was fourth in the MEAC with a .614 slugging percentage.

Saunders (Suffolk, Va.) also finished the regular season tied for sixth in the conference with 53 hits.

Saunders is the first Lady Pirate to earn VaSID All-State honors since 2008, when Angela Balser and Brittany Davis earned First Team honors, while Amanda Black was a Second Team selection.

Davis and Black were also Second Team selections in 2007, along with Jennifer Gonzales. Maggie Wolfe was a VaSID First Team All-State selection that year.

Radford shortstop Kristen Shifflett was named the VaSID Player of the Year, while Virginia's Melanie Mitchell was named Pitcher of the Year. Longwood's Brooke Short earned VaSID Rookie of the Year honors, and Radford's Mickey Dean was named Coach of the Year.

For more information on Hampton University softball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.