University of Massachusets Athletics
2002: Another Banner Softball Year
June 19, 2002 | Softball
by Misty Cole
The Maroon & White
The UMass softball team had a banner season as it made its mark as one of the best teams ever to take the field in a UMass uniform. The Minutewomen finished the season with a school record 53 wins and only 13 losses while cruising to a perfect 21-0 mark in the Atlantic 10 for the second straight season. Massachusetts boasted the nation's longest win streak of the year, winning 33 games in a row to tie for eighth-longest streak in NCAA Division I history. The team captured its eighth consecutive A-10 Championship to advanced to the program's 12th NCAA Regional Tournament in Lafayette, La. The 2002 squad broke 18 individual and team records along the way and garnered numerous awards and honors, including third team All-American (Jennifer Hadley), A-10 Pitcher of the Year (Kaila Holtz), A-10 Player of the Year (Teri Rooney) and A-10 Coach of the Year (Elaine Sortino). Below is a review of the 2002 UMass softball season:
Jan. 24, 2002
The Minutewomen were ranked No. 24 in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches poll, a one spot improvement from their final ranking of No. 25 in May of 2001.
Feb. 8, 2002
UMass kicked off the 2002 season with two wins at the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Minutewomen opened tournament play with a 7-1 romp over Kansas with UMass scoring all of its runs in the sixth inning. Junior Kaila Holtz earned her first win of the season as she scattered six hits and struck out four. Massachusetts forced the mercy rule against eventual Big XII champion Texas, 9-1, in the nightcap. The Maroon & White took advantage of four walks, two wild pitches, two Longhorn errors and a single by senior Teri Rooney to jump out to a 5-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back. Senior Jennifer Hadley recorded the win as she limited Texas to four hits, while striking out four.
Feb. 9, 2002
Freshman hurler Kelli Arnold made her collegiate debut with a 7-1 victory over Texas Tech at the Fiesta Bowl Classic. Arnold struck out six in the win. Junior Emily Robustelli homered in the sixth inning for the first UMass dinger of the season. Massachusetts took its first loss of the year in the nightcap as it fell to UNLV, 6-4. The lead exchanged hands four times, and UMass stranded 13 runners in the loss.
Feb. 10, 2002
The Minutewomen took No. 1 ranked and defending national champion Arizona into extra-innings to finish play in the Fiesta Bowl Classic. Holtz and 2001 Honda Award winner Jennie Finch were locked in a pitcher's dual through seven frames as the teams headed into the eighth inning scoreless. Massachusetts had escaped bases loaded threats by the Wildcats in the second and fifth innings and Rooney pegged a runner out from center field who attempted to score from second base on a Finch double in the sixth. With two outs in the top of the seventh, the Minutewomen put the pressure on Finch and the Arizona defense as senior Scooter Wheeler walked and Holtz singled through the left side. Finch recorded the strikeout, however, forcing the game into extra-innings. Under the international tie breaker rule Arizona's Leneah Manuma laced a ball down the left field line to score the winning run from second base.
Feb. 13, 2002
Massachusetts was picked to finish first in the Atlantic 10 by the conference coaches. Rooney was also selected as co-WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week for her performance in the Fiesta Bowl Classic. Rooney led the team with a .533 (8-for-15) batting average, four runs scored, a triple, a .667 slugging percentage and a .588 onbase percentage.
Feb. 22, 2002
UMass struggled in the opening day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., dropping a pair of games. The Minutewomen lost to Missouri, 1-0 and No. 14 Cal State Fullerton, 6-0. UMass had only four hits on the day, all against Missouri. Sophomore pinch runner KC Budrewicz' walk in the sixth inning was UMass' only base runner against Cal State Fullerton.
Feb. 23, 2002
A two run seventh inning lifted Massachusetts to a 3-1 upset over No. 2 ranked Stanford. The Cardinal scored a run in the first on a UMass error and a double by Jessica Mendoza. UMass evened the score in the second frame as sophomore catcher Jamie Cahalan hit a two-out home run. The score remained locked at 1-1 until the seventh when Massachusetts was able to plate two more runs to seal the upset victory. The Minutewomen loaded the bases with a single by sophomore Aisha Franke, a walk by Robustelli and a single by Rooney. Wheeler was then hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run. Holtz followed with a single to score Rooney and added an insurance run heading into the bottom of the seventh. Holtz retired the Cardinal in order to preserve the victory. The Minutewomen also defeated rival UConn that afternoon, 1-0, stringing together singles by Holtz, junior Anna Perey and senior Ashley Bakken. Hadley gave up just two hits to the Huskies, while striking out four.
Feb. 24, 2002
Holtz tossed a no-hitter against Southern Mississippi to lead the Minutewomen to a 2-0 victory. Holtz struck out six in the win and a sixth inning walk was her only blemish in the near perfect game. UMass dropped the Bronze Championship game to Illinois-Chicago, 2-1, as it recorded just two hits in the game.
Feb. 27, 2002
Holtz was named WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week for her 2-1 performance in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Holtz struck out seven en route to a 3-1 victory over No. 2 ranked Stanford and tossed a no-hitter against Southern Mississippi.
March 8, 2002
UMass defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 3-0, before falling to Southern Illinois, 5-3 in pool play of the Seminole Classic in Tallahassee, Fla. Junior Brandi Cross recorded two hits in the win over Southeastern Louisiana while the Salukis scored all five of their runs in the seventh inning to steal the victory.
March 9, 2002
The Minutewomen secured the top seed in the Gold Championship with a 8-0 romp over Providence College to win their pool. Arnold threw her first career shutout against the Friars and was one hit away from a no-hitter. In the first round of the Gold Championship, UMass dropped an 8-2 decision to Minnesota, as it committed four errors. In the elimination game against tournament host and No. 22 Florida State, Massachusetts came out on top, 3-2. Robustelli singled to center field in the first and eventually scored on an FSU error. The Seminoles evened the score in the second inning on two hits, a walk and a fielder's choice. The score remained knotted at one apiece until the bottom of the fifth when UMass used three hits to go ahead, 3-1. Rooney led off with a double to left field. Cross followed suit, blasting a double to the center field warning track, scoring Rooney. Walks to Holtz and Cahalan loaded the bags and a single over the third baseman by Perey scored pinch runner Hilary Puglia to give UMass the 3-1 edge. FSU threatened UMass' lead in the seventh inning scoring a run on back-to-back hits but hurler Holtz forced the Seminoles into two ground-outs to end the game.
March 10, 2002
In the Consolation Championship of the Seminole Classic, UMass avenged an earlier loss to Southern Illinois with a 3-1 victory. Cross hit a bases loaded double to the left field fence to clear the bases. Hadley earned all-tournament honors as she went 2-1 from the mound with a team-low 0.38 ERA. She allowed 14 hits and one earned run in three starts with 15 strikeouts.
March 15, 2002
UMass split tournament play on day one of the Blue & Gold Classic in Miami, Fla. The Minutewomen defeated Illinois-Chicago, 4-3, before falling to tournament host Florida International, 2-1. UMass made three errors in the FIU loss.
March 16, 2002
Holtz held UMKC to three hits but UMass stranded nine en route to a 3-2 loss at the Blue & Gold Classic. Massachusetts responded in the nightcap with a 4-1 victory over Fordham. Arnold scattered three hits and struck out seven in the win.
March 17, 2002
Massachusetts defeated UMKC, 5-1, and FIU, 2-1, to claim the Blue & Gold Championship title. Rooney and Wheeler each recorded two hits in the championship game.
March 19, 2002
Massachusetts split with Illinois-Chicago to close out its Miami tour as it defeated the Flames, 6-2, in game one and dropped game two, 8-2. Freshman Denise Denis recorded her first collegiate hit.
March 20, 2002
Wheeler was named WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week and Atlantic 10 Player of the Week as she led the Minutewomen to the Blue & Gold Classic championship. Wheeler hit .444 with a team-leading eight hits, four RBI and a .667 slugging percentage. She also recorded a double, home run and was 1-for-1 in stolen base attempts.
March 23-24 2002
Elaine Sortino earned her 750th career win at the helm of the UMass softball program as the Minutewomen swept the three-game series over Temple to open Atlantic 10 play (4-0, 7-1, 9-0). Sortino became only the 11th active Division I coach to amass 750 victories. Bakken went 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts in the weekend series.
March 25, 2002
Hadley was named A-10 Pitcher of the Week for her three-win performance, March 18-24. Hadley recorded a win over UIC, 6-2, to wrap-up UMass' six-day tour in Miami before recording a pair of A-10 victories at Temple, 7-1 and 9-0. She maintained a 0.67 ERA over 21 innings, allowing 17 hits, two earned runs and striking out 14 batters.
March 30-31, 2002
The Minutewomen shutout La Salle in the three-game league series (8-0, 8-0, 3-0). It was the first series shutout for the Maroon & White since the Atlantic 10 moved to the three-game series format in 2001. In 2000, UMass shutout Rhode Island in its two-game match-up, 13-0 and 8-0.
April 1, 2002
Rooney and Holtz were named A-10 Player/Pitcher of the Week for their performances against La Salle. Rooney recorded seven RBI and six hits as she went 2-for-4 with a triple and drove in five runs in the Minutewomen's 8-0 win on March 30. In the nightcap, she went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Rooney also went 2-for-3 in the March 31 game. Holtz pitched two-hit and three-hit shutouts against La Salle.
April 2, 2002
UMass took a pair from Maine, 3-1 and 10-0. Franke hit an RBI double in game two, for her first career extra-base hit.
April 6-7, 2002
Massachusetts completed a three-game sweep over Saint Joseph's, 7-1, 4-1 and 11-0. Wheeler's RBI in the third game was her 132nd career run batted in to place her atop of the school's all-time list.
April 10, 2002
Wheeler was named WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week for the second time as she led UMass to a 5-0 mark, April 1-7. Wheeler hit .429 (6-for-14) with a double, a home run and five RBI to become the Minutewomen's all-time RBI leader.
April 11, 2002
The Minutewomen swept a pair of games from Harvard, 9-3 and 2-1. Holtz fanned a season-best nine batters in game one. Game two went extra innings, and a pinch hit single by Puglia scored Franke to lift UMass to victory. Hadley finished with a season-high 11 strikeouts.
April 13-14, 2002
Holtz' no-hitter and Wheeler's two home runs helped Massachusetts complete the three-game sweep over Rhode Island, 8-0, 4-1 and 6-0. In game three, Cross and Wheeler hit back-to-back dingers. Wheeler followed up with another homer in her next at-bat to tie her own school record for home runs in a single game. Holtz' no-hitter marked her second of the season and the third of her career.
April 17, 2002
Robustelli's 3-for-3 performance at the plate and two RBI led UMass to a 5-2 victory over Boston College. Rooney also added a pair of RBI in the win, while Hadley limited the Eagles to five hits and struck out six. Holtz was named WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week as she went 3-0 from the mound with a 1.05 ERA and 16 strikeouts, April 8-14.
April 18, 2002
UMass defeated Central Connecticut, 3-1 and 1-0, as Massachusetts bumped its win streak to 21 games. In game two, sophomore pinch hitter Nicole Wilson delivered the game-winning drive to left field to score Cross who had reached base on a walk and moved to second on a fielder's choice. Holtz threw a one-hitter, while Hadley gave up just two hits to the Blue Devils.
April 20-21, 2002
Massachusetts took three from St. Bonaventure (6-0, 9-1 and 10-0) to tie the school record with 24 consecutive victories. The Bonnies hit 15 UMass batters in the series. Game three was highlighted by Cahalan's two-out three-run homer in the first inning.
April 24, 2002
With a 3-0 shutout over Connecticut, UMass set a school-record with 25 straight victories. Holtz tossed a perfect game through six innings before giving up a leadoff single in the seventh.
April 28-29, 2002
The Minutewomen clinched the Atlantic 10 regular season title with a weekend sweep over Dayton, 7-0, 13-1 and 3-2. Wheeler hit 3-for-3 in game one with a two-run home run and five RBI.
May 1, 2002
UMass defeated Boston University, 4-1, as Holtz allowed just four hits and did not allow a Terrier to pass second base after the third inning. Holtz was also named co-WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week for her performance, April 22-28. Holtz tossed two shutouts as UMass extended its win streak to 28 games and clinched the A-10 regular season title. She allowed 11 hits over 24 innings, while fanning 26 for a 0.58 ERA.
May 3, 2002
With a 1-0 shutout over Connecticut, the Minutewomen tied the school record for wins in a season with their 45th victory. Franke scored the game-winner in the third inning when she scored on a Rooney ground out. Hadley gave up two hits and no walks, while striking out a season-best 12 batters.
May 4-5, 2002
Massachusetts defeated Fordham 7-1, 6-0 and 13-0 to sweep Atlantic 10 play for the second consecutive season with a 21-0 record. The victory also extended the nation's longest win streak to 33 games which tied for eighth all-time on the NCAA chart with UCLA (1992).
May 6, 2002
Cahalan and Hadley were named A-10 Player/Pitcher of the Week. Cahalan hit a team-leading .500 (6-for-12) clip with three doubles, a triple and a team-high five RBI, for the week of April 29-May 5. Hadley threw three shutouts, including a season-high 12 strikeout performance against Fordham.
May 8, 2002
The Minutewomen raked in the awards at the Atlantic 10 Championship banquet, including a clean sweep of the A-10 Player, Pitcher and Coach of the Year awards. Rooney was named A-10 Player of the Year and an all-conference outfielder as she led the league with a .388 batting average, 45 runs scored, 69 hits and seven triples. Holtz earned A-10 Pitcher of the Year honors and all-conference honors as both a pitcher and designated player as she went 21-5 from the mound, including a 10-0 mark in league play. Holtz maintained a 0.97 ERA to rank 26th in the nation. She also hit .328 in league play, including seven doubles, a home run and 24 runs batted in. Sortino was named A-10 Coach of the Year for the seventh time, the most awards of any coach of any sport in A-10 history. Bakken and Wheeler were named all-conference second and third baseman, respectively. Massachusetts also had five players named to the 2002 Women's Softball Verizon Academic All-District I Team. Cross, Hadley, Holtz and Rooney were first team picks, while Bakken was a second team selection.
May 9, 2002
Rhode Island snapped the nation's longest win streak at 33 games as it upset UMass in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament, 1-0. The Rams scored the only run of the day on two hits and a Massachusetts error. Holtz took the tough loss for UMass, the team's first since March 19, as she scattered four hits, while striking out five.
May 10, 2002
Massachusetts defeated Saint Joseph's, 4-0 and Temple, 3-0 to advance to the A-10 Championship finals. Cross and Cahalan each homered in the win over Saint Joseph's and Franke went 5-for-6.
May 11, 2002
UMass defeated Rhode Island twice, 6-1 and 8-0, to win the A-10 Tournament crown for the eighth straight year and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth consecutive time, too. Holtz hit a three-run double in game one to put UMass on top for good. The Minute-women capitalized on six Ram errors in game two, coupled with a Holtz one-hitter to win the tournament title. Holtz was named tournament MVP as she allowed no earned runs over three games, while fanning 11. Joining Holtz on the all-tournament team were Cross, Cahalan, Franke, Hadley, Perey and Wheeler.
May 16, 2002
The No. 4 seed Minutewomen defeated No. 3 seed and tournament host Louisiana-Lafayette, 5-3, in a 13-inning nail-biter at the NCAA Tournament in Lafayette, La. The game had five lead changes before UMass scored two runs in the 13th on two Ragin Cajun errors. Holtz, Perey and Rooney were each 3-for-6 from the plate. Rooney's three-hit performance brought her season total to 77 hits to rank first all-time at UMass. Holtz pitched 11.2 innings, scattering 14 hits and striking out 10. Hadley closed out the game, earning the win with a three-hit, two-strikeout performance over 1.1 innings of work.
May 17, 2002
Four players were named to the NFCA All-Region team. Hadley and Rooney were named first team, while Bakken and Holtz were named second team.
May 18, 2002
Hadley held No. 2 seed Arizona State scoreless through six innings but three hits and a sacrifice fly in the seventh lifted ASU to the 1-0 victory over Massachusetts. The Sun Devils out-hit the Minutewomen, 11-3. The loss forced UMass into a do-or-die game against No. 1 seed Louisiana State later that evening. Holtz held the Tigers to just five hits, but a third inning home run by LSU's Jennie Reeves proved to be the game-winner and Massachusetts was eliminated from the tournament with a 1-0 loss.
May 23, 2002
Hadley was named third team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She finished the season ranked fifth nationally with a 0.69 ERA and led the Atlantic 10 with 25 wins. Hadley limited her opponents to 129 hits overall and 16 extra-base hits in 193.0 innings pitched. She tossed nine shutouts and recorded 147 strikeouts, while walking just 41 batters.
May 29, 2002
UMass finished the season ranked No. 23 in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 poll. It was the highest ranking of the year for the Minutewomen after starting the season at No. 24.
This story was originally published in The Maroon & White. For subscription information please call the Athletic Development Office at (413) 545-4290.
The Maroon & White
The UMass softball team had a banner season as it made its mark as one of the best teams ever to take the field in a UMass uniform. The Minutewomen finished the season with a school record 53 wins and only 13 losses while cruising to a perfect 21-0 mark in the Atlantic 10 for the second straight season. Massachusetts boasted the nation's longest win streak of the year, winning 33 games in a row to tie for eighth-longest streak in NCAA Division I history. The team captured its eighth consecutive A-10 Championship to advanced to the program's 12th NCAA Regional Tournament in Lafayette, La. The 2002 squad broke 18 individual and team records along the way and garnered numerous awards and honors, including third team All-American (Jennifer Hadley), A-10 Pitcher of the Year (Kaila Holtz), A-10 Player of the Year (Teri Rooney) and A-10 Coach of the Year (Elaine Sortino). Below is a review of the 2002 UMass softball season:
Jan. 24, 2002
The Minutewomen were ranked No. 24 in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches poll, a one spot improvement from their final ranking of No. 25 in May of 2001.
Feb. 8, 2002
UMass kicked off the 2002 season with two wins at the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Minutewomen opened tournament play with a 7-1 romp over Kansas with UMass scoring all of its runs in the sixth inning. Junior Kaila Holtz earned her first win of the season as she scattered six hits and struck out four. Massachusetts forced the mercy rule against eventual Big XII champion Texas, 9-1, in the nightcap. The Maroon & White took advantage of four walks, two wild pitches, two Longhorn errors and a single by senior Teri Rooney to jump out to a 5-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back. Senior Jennifer Hadley recorded the win as she limited Texas to four hits, while striking out four.
Feb. 9, 2002
Freshman hurler Kelli Arnold made her collegiate debut with a 7-1 victory over Texas Tech at the Fiesta Bowl Classic. Arnold struck out six in the win. Junior Emily Robustelli homered in the sixth inning for the first UMass dinger of the season. Massachusetts took its first loss of the year in the nightcap as it fell to UNLV, 6-4. The lead exchanged hands four times, and UMass stranded 13 runners in the loss.
Feb. 10, 2002
The Minutewomen took No. 1 ranked and defending national champion Arizona into extra-innings to finish play in the Fiesta Bowl Classic. Holtz and 2001 Honda Award winner Jennie Finch were locked in a pitcher's dual through seven frames as the teams headed into the eighth inning scoreless. Massachusetts had escaped bases loaded threats by the Wildcats in the second and fifth innings and Rooney pegged a runner out from center field who attempted to score from second base on a Finch double in the sixth. With two outs in the top of the seventh, the Minutewomen put the pressure on Finch and the Arizona defense as senior Scooter Wheeler walked and Holtz singled through the left side. Finch recorded the strikeout, however, forcing the game into extra-innings. Under the international tie breaker rule Arizona's Leneah Manuma laced a ball down the left field line to score the winning run from second base.
Feb. 13, 2002
Massachusetts was picked to finish first in the Atlantic 10 by the conference coaches. Rooney was also selected as co-WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week for her performance in the Fiesta Bowl Classic. Rooney led the team with a .533 (8-for-15) batting average, four runs scored, a triple, a .667 slugging percentage and a .588 onbase percentage.
Feb. 22, 2002
UMass struggled in the opening day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga., dropping a pair of games. The Minutewomen lost to Missouri, 1-0 and No. 14 Cal State Fullerton, 6-0. UMass had only four hits on the day, all against Missouri. Sophomore pinch runner KC Budrewicz' walk in the sixth inning was UMass' only base runner against Cal State Fullerton.
Feb. 23, 2002
A two run seventh inning lifted Massachusetts to a 3-1 upset over No. 2 ranked Stanford. The Cardinal scored a run in the first on a UMass error and a double by Jessica Mendoza. UMass evened the score in the second frame as sophomore catcher Jamie Cahalan hit a two-out home run. The score remained locked at 1-1 until the seventh when Massachusetts was able to plate two more runs to seal the upset victory. The Minutewomen loaded the bases with a single by sophomore Aisha Franke, a walk by Robustelli and a single by Rooney. Wheeler was then hit by a pitch to force in the go-ahead run. Holtz followed with a single to score Rooney and added an insurance run heading into the bottom of the seventh. Holtz retired the Cardinal in order to preserve the victory. The Minutewomen also defeated rival UConn that afternoon, 1-0, stringing together singles by Holtz, junior Anna Perey and senior Ashley Bakken. Hadley gave up just two hits to the Huskies, while striking out four.
Feb. 24, 2002
Holtz tossed a no-hitter against Southern Mississippi to lead the Minutewomen to a 2-0 victory. Holtz struck out six in the win and a sixth inning walk was her only blemish in the near perfect game. UMass dropped the Bronze Championship game to Illinois-Chicago, 2-1, as it recorded just two hits in the game.
Feb. 27, 2002
Holtz was named WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week for her 2-1 performance in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Holtz struck out seven en route to a 3-1 victory over No. 2 ranked Stanford and tossed a no-hitter against Southern Mississippi.
March 8, 2002
UMass defeated Southeastern Louisiana, 3-0, before falling to Southern Illinois, 5-3 in pool play of the Seminole Classic in Tallahassee, Fla. Junior Brandi Cross recorded two hits in the win over Southeastern Louisiana while the Salukis scored all five of their runs in the seventh inning to steal the victory.
March 9, 2002
The Minutewomen secured the top seed in the Gold Championship with a 8-0 romp over Providence College to win their pool. Arnold threw her first career shutout against the Friars and was one hit away from a no-hitter. In the first round of the Gold Championship, UMass dropped an 8-2 decision to Minnesota, as it committed four errors. In the elimination game against tournament host and No. 22 Florida State, Massachusetts came out on top, 3-2. Robustelli singled to center field in the first and eventually scored on an FSU error. The Seminoles evened the score in the second inning on two hits, a walk and a fielder's choice. The score remained knotted at one apiece until the bottom of the fifth when UMass used three hits to go ahead, 3-1. Rooney led off with a double to left field. Cross followed suit, blasting a double to the center field warning track, scoring Rooney. Walks to Holtz and Cahalan loaded the bags and a single over the third baseman by Perey scored pinch runner Hilary Puglia to give UMass the 3-1 edge. FSU threatened UMass' lead in the seventh inning scoring a run on back-to-back hits but hurler Holtz forced the Seminoles into two ground-outs to end the game.
March 10, 2002
In the Consolation Championship of the Seminole Classic, UMass avenged an earlier loss to Southern Illinois with a 3-1 victory. Cross hit a bases loaded double to the left field fence to clear the bases. Hadley earned all-tournament honors as she went 2-1 from the mound with a team-low 0.38 ERA. She allowed 14 hits and one earned run in three starts with 15 strikeouts.
March 15, 2002
UMass split tournament play on day one of the Blue & Gold Classic in Miami, Fla. The Minutewomen defeated Illinois-Chicago, 4-3, before falling to tournament host Florida International, 2-1. UMass made three errors in the FIU loss.
March 16, 2002
Holtz held UMKC to three hits but UMass stranded nine en route to a 3-2 loss at the Blue & Gold Classic. Massachusetts responded in the nightcap with a 4-1 victory over Fordham. Arnold scattered three hits and struck out seven in the win.
March 17, 2002
Massachusetts defeated UMKC, 5-1, and FIU, 2-1, to claim the Blue & Gold Championship title. Rooney and Wheeler each recorded two hits in the championship game.
March 19, 2002
Massachusetts split with Illinois-Chicago to close out its Miami tour as it defeated the Flames, 6-2, in game one and dropped game two, 8-2. Freshman Denise Denis recorded her first collegiate hit.
March 20, 2002
Wheeler was named WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week and Atlantic 10 Player of the Week as she led the Minutewomen to the Blue & Gold Classic championship. Wheeler hit .444 with a team-leading eight hits, four RBI and a .667 slugging percentage. She also recorded a double, home run and was 1-for-1 in stolen base attempts.
March 23-24 2002
Elaine Sortino earned her 750th career win at the helm of the UMass softball program as the Minutewomen swept the three-game series over Temple to open Atlantic 10 play (4-0, 7-1, 9-0). Sortino became only the 11th active Division I coach to amass 750 victories. Bakken went 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts in the weekend series.
March 25, 2002
Hadley was named A-10 Pitcher of the Week for her three-win performance, March 18-24. Hadley recorded a win over UIC, 6-2, to wrap-up UMass' six-day tour in Miami before recording a pair of A-10 victories at Temple, 7-1 and 9-0. She maintained a 0.67 ERA over 21 innings, allowing 17 hits, two earned runs and striking out 14 batters.
March 30-31, 2002
The Minutewomen shutout La Salle in the three-game league series (8-0, 8-0, 3-0). It was the first series shutout for the Maroon & White since the Atlantic 10 moved to the three-game series format in 2001. In 2000, UMass shutout Rhode Island in its two-game match-up, 13-0 and 8-0.
April 1, 2002
Rooney and Holtz were named A-10 Player/Pitcher of the Week for their performances against La Salle. Rooney recorded seven RBI and six hits as she went 2-for-4 with a triple and drove in five runs in the Minutewomen's 8-0 win on March 30. In the nightcap, she went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Rooney also went 2-for-3 in the March 31 game. Holtz pitched two-hit and three-hit shutouts against La Salle.
April 2, 2002
UMass took a pair from Maine, 3-1 and 10-0. Franke hit an RBI double in game two, for her first career extra-base hit.
April 6-7, 2002
Massachusetts completed a three-game sweep over Saint Joseph's, 7-1, 4-1 and 11-0. Wheeler's RBI in the third game was her 132nd career run batted in to place her atop of the school's all-time list.
April 10, 2002
Wheeler was named WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week for the second time as she led UMass to a 5-0 mark, April 1-7. Wheeler hit .429 (6-for-14) with a double, a home run and five RBI to become the Minutewomen's all-time RBI leader.
April 11, 2002
The Minutewomen swept a pair of games from Harvard, 9-3 and 2-1. Holtz fanned a season-best nine batters in game one. Game two went extra innings, and a pinch hit single by Puglia scored Franke to lift UMass to victory. Hadley finished with a season-high 11 strikeouts.
April 13-14, 2002
Holtz' no-hitter and Wheeler's two home runs helped Massachusetts complete the three-game sweep over Rhode Island, 8-0, 4-1 and 6-0. In game three, Cross and Wheeler hit back-to-back dingers. Wheeler followed up with another homer in her next at-bat to tie her own school record for home runs in a single game. Holtz' no-hitter marked her second of the season and the third of her career.
April 17, 2002
Robustelli's 3-for-3 performance at the plate and two RBI led UMass to a 5-2 victory over Boston College. Rooney also added a pair of RBI in the win, while Hadley limited the Eagles to five hits and struck out six. Holtz was named WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week as she went 3-0 from the mound with a 1.05 ERA and 16 strikeouts, April 8-14.
April 18, 2002
UMass defeated Central Connecticut, 3-1 and 1-0, as Massachusetts bumped its win streak to 21 games. In game two, sophomore pinch hitter Nicole Wilson delivered the game-winning drive to left field to score Cross who had reached base on a walk and moved to second on a fielder's choice. Holtz threw a one-hitter, while Hadley gave up just two hits to the Blue Devils.
April 20-21, 2002
Massachusetts took three from St. Bonaventure (6-0, 9-1 and 10-0) to tie the school record with 24 consecutive victories. The Bonnies hit 15 UMass batters in the series. Game three was highlighted by Cahalan's two-out three-run homer in the first inning.
April 24, 2002
With a 3-0 shutout over Connecticut, UMass set a school-record with 25 straight victories. Holtz tossed a perfect game through six innings before giving up a leadoff single in the seventh.
April 28-29, 2002
The Minutewomen clinched the Atlantic 10 regular season title with a weekend sweep over Dayton, 7-0, 13-1 and 3-2. Wheeler hit 3-for-3 in game one with a two-run home run and five RBI.
May 1, 2002
UMass defeated Boston University, 4-1, as Holtz allowed just four hits and did not allow a Terrier to pass second base after the third inning. Holtz was also named co-WHMP/UMass Athlete of the Week for her performance, April 22-28. Holtz tossed two shutouts as UMass extended its win streak to 28 games and clinched the A-10 regular season title. She allowed 11 hits over 24 innings, while fanning 26 for a 0.58 ERA.
May 3, 2002
With a 1-0 shutout over Connecticut, the Minutewomen tied the school record for wins in a season with their 45th victory. Franke scored the game-winner in the third inning when she scored on a Rooney ground out. Hadley gave up two hits and no walks, while striking out a season-best 12 batters.
May 4-5, 2002
Massachusetts defeated Fordham 7-1, 6-0 and 13-0 to sweep Atlantic 10 play for the second consecutive season with a 21-0 record. The victory also extended the nation's longest win streak to 33 games which tied for eighth all-time on the NCAA chart with UCLA (1992).
May 6, 2002
Cahalan and Hadley were named A-10 Player/Pitcher of the Week. Cahalan hit a team-leading .500 (6-for-12) clip with three doubles, a triple and a team-high five RBI, for the week of April 29-May 5. Hadley threw three shutouts, including a season-high 12 strikeout performance against Fordham.
May 8, 2002
The Minutewomen raked in the awards at the Atlantic 10 Championship banquet, including a clean sweep of the A-10 Player, Pitcher and Coach of the Year awards. Rooney was named A-10 Player of the Year and an all-conference outfielder as she led the league with a .388 batting average, 45 runs scored, 69 hits and seven triples. Holtz earned A-10 Pitcher of the Year honors and all-conference honors as both a pitcher and designated player as she went 21-5 from the mound, including a 10-0 mark in league play. Holtz maintained a 0.97 ERA to rank 26th in the nation. She also hit .328 in league play, including seven doubles, a home run and 24 runs batted in. Sortino was named A-10 Coach of the Year for the seventh time, the most awards of any coach of any sport in A-10 history. Bakken and Wheeler were named all-conference second and third baseman, respectively. Massachusetts also had five players named to the 2002 Women's Softball Verizon Academic All-District I Team. Cross, Hadley, Holtz and Rooney were first team picks, while Bakken was a second team selection.
May 9, 2002
Rhode Island snapped the nation's longest win streak at 33 games as it upset UMass in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament, 1-0. The Rams scored the only run of the day on two hits and a Massachusetts error. Holtz took the tough loss for UMass, the team's first since March 19, as she scattered four hits, while striking out five.
May 10, 2002
Massachusetts defeated Saint Joseph's, 4-0 and Temple, 3-0 to advance to the A-10 Championship finals. Cross and Cahalan each homered in the win over Saint Joseph's and Franke went 5-for-6.
May 11, 2002
UMass defeated Rhode Island twice, 6-1 and 8-0, to win the A-10 Tournament crown for the eighth straight year and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth consecutive time, too. Holtz hit a three-run double in game one to put UMass on top for good. The Minute-women capitalized on six Ram errors in game two, coupled with a Holtz one-hitter to win the tournament title. Holtz was named tournament MVP as she allowed no earned runs over three games, while fanning 11. Joining Holtz on the all-tournament team were Cross, Cahalan, Franke, Hadley, Perey and Wheeler.
May 16, 2002
The No. 4 seed Minutewomen defeated No. 3 seed and tournament host Louisiana-Lafayette, 5-3, in a 13-inning nail-biter at the NCAA Tournament in Lafayette, La. The game had five lead changes before UMass scored two runs in the 13th on two Ragin Cajun errors. Holtz, Perey and Rooney were each 3-for-6 from the plate. Rooney's three-hit performance brought her season total to 77 hits to rank first all-time at UMass. Holtz pitched 11.2 innings, scattering 14 hits and striking out 10. Hadley closed out the game, earning the win with a three-hit, two-strikeout performance over 1.1 innings of work.
May 17, 2002
Four players were named to the NFCA All-Region team. Hadley and Rooney were named first team, while Bakken and Holtz were named second team.
May 18, 2002
Hadley held No. 2 seed Arizona State scoreless through six innings but three hits and a sacrifice fly in the seventh lifted ASU to the 1-0 victory over Massachusetts. The Sun Devils out-hit the Minutewomen, 11-3. The loss forced UMass into a do-or-die game against No. 1 seed Louisiana State later that evening. Holtz held the Tigers to just five hits, but a third inning home run by LSU's Jennie Reeves proved to be the game-winner and Massachusetts was eliminated from the tournament with a 1-0 loss.
May 23, 2002
Hadley was named third team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She finished the season ranked fifth nationally with a 0.69 ERA and led the Atlantic 10 with 25 wins. Hadley limited her opponents to 129 hits overall and 16 extra-base hits in 193.0 innings pitched. She tossed nine shutouts and recorded 147 strikeouts, while walking just 41 batters.
May 29, 2002
UMass finished the season ranked No. 23 in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 poll. It was the highest ranking of the year for the Minutewomen after starting the season at No. 24.
This story was originally published in The Maroon & White. For subscription information please call the Athletic Development Office at (413) 545-4290.
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