University of Massachusets Athletics
Balschmiter, Mollica Sweep A-10 Weekly Softball Awards
February 20, 2006 | Softball
Feb. 20, 2006
AMHERST, Mass. -- Massachusetts swept the first round of Atlantic 10 weekly softball awards as freshman Whitney Mollica (Windham, N.H.) was named the Player/Rookie of the week and classmate Brandice Balschmiter (Newark, N.Y.) was tabbed the Pitcher of the Week. Both were honored for their performances at the Campbell/Cartier Tournament in San Diego, Calif., Feb. 10-12.
Mollica batted .333 in her first collegiate action at the Campbell/Cartier Tournament in San Diego, Feb. 10-12. She was 4-for-12 with a double, a triple, two RBI and three walks. Mollica posted a team-high .583 slugging percentage as well as a team-high .467 on-base percentage. Her first career hit against Cal-Santa Barbara (2/10) was a shot up the middle. Mollica then hit the game-winning, two-run triple off the centerfield wall in the sixth inning against Sacramento State (2/10).
Balschmiter had an impressive start to her career going 1-2 in the circle with a 1.70 ERA against some tough competition at the Campbell / Cartier Tournament in San Diego, Feb. 10-12. She gave up six earned runs on 19 hits in 24.2 innings while striking out 22 batters. Balschmiter picked up a complete game win in her first collegiate start against Sacramento State (2/10). She scattered five hits and three walks while fanning six. Balschmiter then gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out three in a tough loss against San Diego State (2/11). She was then one strike away from a shutout against #8/7 California (2/12), but an error allowed two unearned runs to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. She scattered seven hits and walked just one (intentional) while striking out a career-high nine against the Golden Bears.
The Minutewomen will return to action this weekend at the prestigious NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. The Minutewomen will play #12 Northwestern, Louisville and Illinois State in pool play. UMass won this tournament in 2003. Live stats of all NFCA Leadoff Classic games will be available on Gametracker at www.umassathletics.com.