University of Massachusets Athletics
Softball Set For Action Packed A-10 Weekend
April 10, 2008 | Softball
April 10, 2008
AMHERST, MASS. - The Massachusetts softball team (21-11, 8-0 A-10) will host two Atlantic 10 matchups over the weekend; First, Saint Joseph's (7-14, 3-3 A-10) on Friday, April 11 and Saturday April 12 and second, a doubleheader against Temple (8-11, 3-5 A-10) on April 13 at the UMass Softball Complex. First pitch on Friday and Saturday are slated for 3 p.m. EST and 12 p.m. EST, respectively. The Minutewomen are winners of 14 of their last 15, including 11 in a row.
BROADCAST INFO
All game's this weekend will be covered through live video streaming at UMassathletics.com with Matt Goldstein covering the play-by-play. The WMUA 91.1 team of Zach Claudio, Chris Marovelli and Mike Wash will call all the live audio action this weekend on the radio.
SCOUTING SAINT JOSEPH'S
•Saint Joseph's holds an overall record of 7-14 and are 3-3 in the Atlantic 10 after losing two in a row to Saint Louis and Drexel, 6-4 and 3-2.
•Saint Joseph's returns eight starters from a year ago where they finished the 2007 season with a 29-33 record, 11-8 in the A-10.
•The pitching staff is led by Lauren Cognigni who has a 3-9 record with a 2.74 ERA. Cognigni leads the Hawks in strikeouts (70) and complete games (8).
•The Hawks are hitting .235 as a team, led by sophomore Brooke Darreff (.483 average, 7 doubles, 15 RBI)
SCOUTING TEMPLE
• Temple holds an overall record of 8-11 and 3-5 in the Atlantic 10. Temple is coming off of three straight wins beating Wagner 5-3 and sweeping a doubleheader against Penn, 3-2 and 4-3.
• Temple returns five starting positional players and two starting pitchers from a year ago where they finished the 2007 season with a 18-21 record, 9-7 in the A-10.
• The pitching staff is led by Brianna Dairy who has a 5-5 record with a 2.49 ERA. Peyton leads the Owls in opponents batting average (.240) and complete games (6).
• The Owls are hitting .240 as a team, led by senior infielder Natalie Wagner (.338 average, 4 doubles, 16 RBI) and junior infielder Courtney Norene (.333 average, 9 home runs, 19 RBI)
MINUTEWOMEN RECEIVING VOTES
The Minutewomen are receiving votes in both major collegiate softball national polls. UMass is receiving 17 votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top-25 poll (Most in the column) and two in the USA Today/NFCA Top-25 poll.
WIN STREAKS
UMass' current 11-game win streak ranks fourth among NCAA Div. 1 schools. The Minutewomen are also currently holding 26-game A-10 Conference win streak. The last conference loss for UMass was against St. Bonaventure on May 5, 2006. The Minutewomen also currently hold a 33-game regular season home win streak. The last regular season home loss was April 9, 2006 to Charlotte.
WILLIAMS' LEADOFF HOME RUN IGNITES UMASS OVER BOSTON COLLGE 8-0
A lead-off home run by sophomore Whitney Williams followed by a seven run fourth inning propelled the Massachusetts softball team (21-11) to a 8-0 victory in five-innings over Boston College in non-conference action Wednesday. Junior pitcher Brandice Balschmiter picked up her 14th win and eighth shutout of the season as UMass won its third-straight run-rule game.
UMass used a huge third inning scoring seven runs on six hits and two errors highlighted by a 2-RBI single up the middle by junior Carly Morin, her first hit of the season. Junior Carly Normandin led off the inning with a single and closed out the inning with a RBI-double to right field to go 2-for-2 in the game.
SORTINO CLOSES IN ON 1,000
UMass Head Coach Elaine Sortino is just 4 wins shy of becoming the 11th coach in NCAA Softball History and eighth in Division 1 to record 1,000 career wins. Entering the 2008 season, Sortino compiled a 975-419-5 (.699) record through 28 years at UMass. She ranks among the top 10 in both wins and winning percentage and is a 2004 National Fast pitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee. While at Massachusetts, Sortino has never had a losing season and enjoyed 20, 30-win seasons, six, 40-win seasons and one 50-win season. Sortino has produced 19 All-Americans, 10 A-10 Players of the Year, 13 A-10 Pitchers of the Year, Seven A-10 Rookies of the Year and 91 All-Conference picks.
UMASS CIRCLE RANKS AMONG NATION'S BEST
The Minutewomen circle composed of Balschmiter and Sanders is among the best in the country in ERA. The duo owns a low 1.13 ERA, which is the ninth best in the NCAA. In the Minutewomens current 11 game win streak the gang has a 1.14 ERA only allowing 9 ER in 71 innings pitched with 79 strike outs.
Balschmiter has recorded seven wins in the current win streak while Sanders has captured Four. Balschmiter's overall ERA of .73 is the 11th best in the country while sanders' ERA stands at 1.98.
Balschmiter has thrown four shutouts including a perfect game against George Washington on April 4. Sanders has thrown one shutout and a two hitter.
COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH
Jessica Serio (.349), Lindsay Maroney (.302), and Whitney Mollica (.290) have been UMass's top three hitters this season, but they have also hit in key spots for the Minutewomen.
*With two outs Maroney is batting .412.
*With runners on base Serio is hitting a team best .385 and with the bases loaded .667.
*In RBI opportunities Mollica is hitting .323.
