Softball Opens 2022 Season This Weekend At Spartan Classic

University of Massachusetts Men's Basketball Game Notes & Information
Tournament	Massachusetts at Spartan Classic
Date	Friday, February 11 - Sunday, February 13
Location	Spartanburg, S.C. \| Cyrill Stadium
Watch	ESPN+ (Friday vs. USC Upstate)
Live Stats	SideArm Stats
Twitter	@UMassSoftball
Instagram	UMass Softball
Facebook	UMass S oftball

AMHERST, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts softball team opens its 2022 campaign this weekend with five games in three days at the Spartan Classic in Spartanburg, S.C. The Minutewomen begin action tomorrow at noon against North Carolina Central before taking on host USC Upstate at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.

Welcome Home Coach
This weekend marks the first for the Minutewomen under new head coach Danielle Henderson. Henderson was a three-time All-American, four-time All-Atlantic 10 selection and the only four-time Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player in league history during her time as a player at UMass. The 2009 UMass Hall of Fame inductee led the Minutewomen to four NCAA Regional appearances and a pair of Women's College World Series appearances in 1997 and 1998. Henderson was the associate head coach at UMass in 2014 before taking the head coaching job at UMass Lowell, where she was twice named the America East Coach of the Year.

The Squad
The Minutewomen return 14 players from a season ago and welcome in five freshman and three transfers to the roster for 2022. Jules Shields returns for her third year after posting a team-leading .356 average at the plate as a sophomore to earn Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team honors while leading the Minutewomen in doubles, RBI, and total bases. Fellow junior Jessie DiPasquale appeared in 28 games in the circle a season ago with 24 starts on her way to ranking third in the conference in total strikeouts. Sophomore Abby Packard leads the Minutewomen transfers after earning America East All-Rookie Team honors at UMass Lowell a season ago.

The Weekend Ahead
Friday
vs. North Carolina Central | 12 p.m.
at USC Upstate | 4 p.m. (ESPN+)

Saturday
vs. North Carolina Central | 3 p.m.
at USC Upstate | 5 p.m.

Sunday
vs. Towson | 10 a.m.

Preseason Tournament Schedule
UMass continues non-conference preseason tournament action next weekend with four games at Incarnate Word in Texas from Feb. 18-20. The Minutewomen follow with five games at Georgia as part of the Bulldog Classic from March 4-6 before heading to Florida March 11-13 for five games at South Florida.

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Players Mentioned

Jessie DiPasquale

Abby Packard

Jules Shields

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University of Massachusets Athletics