April 24, 2002

Box Score

STORRS, Conn.- The University of Massachusetts softball team earned its 25th consecutive victory with a 3-0 win over Connecticut this afternoon. With the victory, the Minutewomen surpass the previous school record of 24 straight wins set in 1979 and again in 2001.

Junior Kaila Holtz (North Vancouver, British Columbia) stole the show, taking a perfect game into the seventh inning before giving up a leadoff single to Amanda Schettini for her only blemish of the day.

UMass got on the board in the third inning, scoring two runs on three hits. Sophomore Aisha Franke (Philadelphia, Pa.) led off the inning with a bunt single and moved to second on a stolen base. Senior Ashley Bakken (Phoenix, Ariz.) followed up with a single through the left side to place runners on first and third with no outs. UMass then executed a text book double steal, scoring Franke as Bakken drew the throw to second base. Senior Teri Rooney (Visalia, Calif.) reached base on a fielder's choice and scored on a double to center field by junior Brandi Cross (Diamond Bar, Calif.).

The Minutewomen added an insurance run in the sixth as sophomore Jamie Cahalan (Mesa, Ariz.) hit a stand-up triple to the right field corner, scoring pinch runner KC Budrewicz (Buckland, Mass.).

Holtz (17-5) finished the day with a one-hitter, her second of the season, while striking out six. UConn's Barb Cook (7-16) gave up seven hits and walked two, while striking out two.

UMass returns to action this weekend as it travels to Dayton for a three-game series, April 27-28. The Minutewomen are leading the Atlantic 10 with a 15-0 record and the Flyers are tied with Temple in second place with 10-5 marks. Game time for Saturday's doubleheader is slated for 1:00 p.m.

Notes: UMass softball has won 40 games five times in school history and four times in the last five years. UMass reached the 40-win mark in 1998 (45- school record), 2001 (44), 1999 (43), 1995 (40) and 2002 (40).

-UMASS-