Softball Captures Sixth Consecutive Atlantic 10 Softball Championship Title

May 13, 2000

AMHERST, Mass. - Senior Nikki Faessler (Milford, Mass.) went 1-for-3 with two RBI to lead the University of Massachusetts to a 6-0 shutout of Virginia Tech today in the championship game of the 2000 Bell Atlantic / Atlantic 10 Softball Championship, held on the campus of UMass. The Minutewomen, who improve to 35-21 with the victory, now qualify for the NCAA Regionals, which will take place from May 18-21. The Hokies fall to 41-22 this season with the loss.

UMass sophomore Cherra Wheeler (Kingsburg, Calif.) drove in the first run of the game, as the Minutewomen loaded up the bases for Wheeler, who got hit by a pitch, which plated sophomore Teri Rooney (Visalia, Calif.). Faessler then connected on her 12th double of the season, which scored freshmen Kaila Holtz (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Kerri Landers (Berkley, Mass.), who pinch-ran for freshman Brandi Cross (Diamond Bar, Calif.). UMass then recorded three more runs in the sixth to take the 6-0 advantage over the Hokies. Rooney singled to centerfield, which plated junior Kiley Scofield (Murietta, Calif.), who walked earlier in the inning. Cross then reached on an error by the first-basemen, which drove in freshman Anna Perey (Chino Valley, Az.) to the plate. Holtz plated the final run of the game with a single to center field, which scored Rooney. Rooney, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored today, was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

Sophomore Jen Hadley (Bristol, Conn.) went the distance on the mound for her 12th victory this season, striking out seven batters, while allowing four hits and walking one in seven innings pitched. Sophomore Ashlee Dobbe (North Vancouver, B.C.) came away with the loss after striking out just one batter, while allowing three hits and walking three in 2.1 innings pitched.

Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team:

1B Brandi Cross Massachusetts

2B Michelle Meadows Virginia Tech

3B Christi Ragan Temple

3B Cherra Wheeler Massachusetts

3B Kara Krumhardt Virginia Tech

SS Emily Robustelli Massachusetts

OF Teri Rooney Massachusetts

C Nikki Faessler Massachusetts

P/DP Kaila Holtz Massachusetts

P Sara Hatcher Dayton

P Jen Hadley Massachusetts

Most Outstanding Player: Teri Rooney

Scoreboard