University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Faces UConn In Non-Conference Softball Action Wednesday
April 22, 2008 | Softball
April 22, 2008
AMHERST, MASS. - The 24th-ranked UMass softball team faces the UConn Huskies in a non-conference battle Wednesday afternoon in Storrs, Conn. The Minutewomen look to extend the nation's third-longest win streak at 20-games with the first pitch slated for 4 p.m. EST. This is the 85th all-time meeting between the two schools, UMass holding a narrow 42-41 series advantage.
BROADCAST INFO
The game against UConn will be broadcast on live audio through SportsJuice at www. UMassathletics.com with Matt Goldstein covering the play-by-play.
LIVE STATS
Live stats are available for all game's this season through GameTracker at www.UMassathletics.com
SCOUTING UCONN
• The Huskies sit in sole possession of second place in the Big East Conference, holding an overall record of 24-16, 11-3 in conference play. UConn has won six-straight games and nine of their last 10 after sweeping the series with Rutgers over the weekend.
• The Huskies are hitting .296 as a team, led by junior catcher Daniel Del Ponte (.349, 6 HR, 23 RBI and junior center fielder Micah Truax (.328, 11 SB, 6 HR , 20 RBI).
• The UConn circle owns a 2.56 era, led by junior right-hander Rachael Crossin (2.15 era, 100 K's) who was named Big East pitcher of the Week last week for going 3-0 with a 0.00 era.
MINUTEWOMEN DEBUT AT NO. 24 IN ESPN.COM/USA SOFTBALL TOP-25 POLL
After a perfect 5-0 week, the UMass softball team makes its debut at No. 24 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll released Tuesday. This is the first time the Minutewomen have been ranked in the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 since February 13, 2007 when they were seeded No. 23.
UMass is also receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Division 1 Top 25 poll and in the Ultimate College Softball Coaches Top 25 poll.
SERIES STUFF
UMass has a narrow 42-41-2 advantage in the all-time series. The Minutewomen were victorious in the last meeting, an 11-3 (5) win at home back on May 7, 2006.
WIN STREAKS
UMass' current 20-game win streak ranks third among NCAA Div. 1 schools. The Minutewomen are also currently holding 34-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 40-game regular season home win streak. The last regular season home loss was April 9, 2006 to Charlotte.
Powerful Minutewomen Bats Complement Balschmiter's Perfect Game In Senior Day Sweep Of Dayton
Junior pitcher Brandice Balschmiter threw her second perfect game of the year and the Minutewomen hit six home runs as the Massachusetts softball team (30-11, 16-0 A-10) swept Dayton (19-26, 6-10 A-10) 12-0 (5) and 13-3 (5) on Senior Day at UMass Softball Complex on Sunday. Balschmiter's perfect game is her second of the season and the second of her career, one away from the UMass softball career record (Danielle Henderson-3). Sophomore centerfielder Carly Normandin went a perfect 5-for-5 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and 10 RBI on the day as UMass extends its overall win streak to 20-games.
Balschmiter, Normandin and Maroney Capture Weekly A-10 Softball Awards
UMass junior Brandice Balschmiter, sophomore Carly Normandin and freshman Lindsay Maroney all received weekly awards from the Atlantic 10 Conference for their performances in leading the Minutewomen to a 5-0 week. Balschmiter was named Co-Pitcher of the Week, Normandin Co-Player of the Week and Maroney Rookie of the Week, it was announced by the league on Monday.
The award is the seventh of the season for Balschmiter, 20th of her career as she went a perfect 3-0 on the week, giving up no runs and just four hits striking out 31 batters while tossing her second perfect game of the season.
Normandin receives her first ever A-10 Player of the Week after collecting eight hits in 14 at-bats (.571) with 14 RBI on the week. The center fielder tallied one double, two triples, and two home runs including a grand slam in five contests in six days.
Maroney also receives her first ever award, being named Rookie of the Week after batted 6-for-11 (.545) with two doubles, a home run and 8 RBI over five contests.
A BALANCE OF POWER
Since entering conference play, the UMass bats have been explosive. The team is hitting .356 in A-10 action, with 60 extra-base hits, 22 home runs and 111 RBI. Overall, eight different Minutewomen players have gone yard, led by senior Samantha Salato and sophomore Sarah Reeves with seven home runs apiece. UMass ranks 15th in the country in doubles per game with 1.59, and 37th in slugging percentage at .45.
WELL ABOVE THE NORM
Already gaining buzz for her outstanding play in the field, sophomore center fielder Carly Normandin lit it up offensively this past week. Normandin entered the week hitting just .258 with 16 RBI and 11 extra-base hits, but went on a terror in UMass' last five games going 8-for-14 (.571) with a double, two triples, and two home runs (including a grand slam) with 14 RBI to extend her batting average to .299. She was named A-10 Co-Player of the Week for her outstanding play.
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 1.06 ERA, which is the fifth best in the NCAA. Balschmiter's overall ERA of .60 is the third best in the country while sanders' ERA stands at 2.01. In UMass' current 20-game win streak the gang has a .83 ERA only allowing 13 ER in 126 innings pitched with 159 strikeouts.
Balschmiter has recorded 13 wins in the current win streak while Sanders has captured seven.
Balschmiter has thrown 13 shutouts including a two perfect games (George Washing and Dayton). Sanders has thrown three shutouts including a no-hitter against Rutgers on March 16.
UP NEXT - SAINT LOUIS
Following the non-conference action against UConn, the Minutewomen will head to Saint Louis on Friday, April 25 for a single game at 5:00 p.m. CST. UMass will play game two of the series on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST.
