University of Massachusets Athletics
Softball Picked To Finish Second In Atlantic 10
February 07, 2018 | Softball
The Minutewomen return six starters and nine letterwinners from last year’s team that finished second in the league.
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts softball team received 86 points and one first-place vote as the Minutewomen were tabbed to finish second in the Atlantic 10 this season as voted on by the coaches in the league. Fordham was picked to finish first with 99 points while Dayton was tabbed third with 74.
UMass returns six positional starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team that posted a 29-24 record on their way to finishing as the runner-up in the Atlantic 10 regular season before coming a game away from securing the NCAA Tournament automatic bid in the Atlantic 10 Tournament in May. The Minutewomen put together a seven-game winning streak last season from March 11 to March 30 while going 16-3 from the midway point of March to April 15 with a 12-4 win at home over Fordham.
First-team all-conference pitcher Meg Colleran returns for the Minutewomen after posting a 20-14 record in the circle last year in 30 starts and 36 appearances. Second-team selections Kaycee Carbone and Erin Stacevicz also return in the outfield after starting over 50 games each during their sophomore campaigns. Kaitlyn Stavinoha enters her junior season after leading UMass in hits last season with 63 and RBI with 38 while posting a .358 average at the plate.
Jena Cozza also returns after posting a .380 average at the plate to go along with five home runs and 17 RBI in just 24 appearances last season. The 2014 A-10 Rookie of the Year heads into her final season at UMass ranking in the top-five in career batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
UMass will open their 2018 season on the road with a five-game slate at the Tiger Classic that includes a matchup against No. 8-ranked LSU on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Minutewomen are scheduled to play in five non-conference tournaments on the road before the home opener at Sortino Field against Boston College on March 21. UMass opens up Atlantic 10 league play on the road against La Salle on March 24-25 in Philadelphia, Pa. and will play their league home opener on April 7 against Saint Joseph's at 12 p.m.
Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll
1. Fordham - 99 (9)
2. Massachusetts - 86 (1)
3. Dayton - 74
4. Saint Joseph's - 67
5. George Washington - 58
6. George Mason - 53
7. Saint Louis - 48
8. Rhode Island - 28
9. La Salle - 23
10. St. Bonaventure - 14
For complete coverage of the UMass softball team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassSoftball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
UMass returns six positional starters and nine letterwinners from last year's team that posted a 29-24 record on their way to finishing as the runner-up in the Atlantic 10 regular season before coming a game away from securing the NCAA Tournament automatic bid in the Atlantic 10 Tournament in May. The Minutewomen put together a seven-game winning streak last season from March 11 to March 30 while going 16-3 from the midway point of March to April 15 with a 12-4 win at home over Fordham.
First-team all-conference pitcher Meg Colleran returns for the Minutewomen after posting a 20-14 record in the circle last year in 30 starts and 36 appearances. Second-team selections Kaycee Carbone and Erin Stacevicz also return in the outfield after starting over 50 games each during their sophomore campaigns. Kaitlyn Stavinoha enters her junior season after leading UMass in hits last season with 63 and RBI with 38 while posting a .358 average at the plate.
Jena Cozza also returns after posting a .380 average at the plate to go along with five home runs and 17 RBI in just 24 appearances last season. The 2014 A-10 Rookie of the Year heads into her final season at UMass ranking in the top-five in career batting average, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
UMass will open their 2018 season on the road with a five-game slate at the Tiger Classic that includes a matchup against No. 8-ranked LSU on Saturday at 6 p.m. The Minutewomen are scheduled to play in five non-conference tournaments on the road before the home opener at Sortino Field against Boston College on March 21. UMass opens up Atlantic 10 league play on the road against La Salle on March 24-25 in Philadelphia, Pa. and will play their league home opener on April 7 against Saint Joseph's at 12 p.m.
Atlantic 10 Preseason Poll
1. Fordham - 99 (9)
2. Massachusetts - 86 (1)
3. Dayton - 74
4. Saint Joseph's - 67
5. George Washington - 58
6. George Mason - 53
7. Saint Louis - 48
8. Rhode Island - 28
9. La Salle - 23
10. St. Bonaventure - 14
For complete coverage of the UMass softball team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @UMassSoftball and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
SS
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OF
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INF
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