AMHERST, Mass. -
The #23/15 UMass softball team heads for its second tournament of the season this weekend when the Minutewomen travel to California for the Cathedral City Classic on Feb. 20-22. There, the Minutewomen will face their toughest stretch of games of the season, taking on four top10 ranked opponents. UMass opens against N.C. State on Friday at 1 p.m. ET, immediately followed by a game vs. #9/10 Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. ET. On Saturday the Minutewomen have just one game, vs. #6/6 UCLA at 8:30 p.m. ET. On Sunday, UMass plays #8/4 Oklahoma at 11 a.m. ET and closes things out against defending national champion and #3/7 Arizona State at 1 p.m. ET.
This is the third-straight year UMass will play in Cathedral City. The Minutewomen have a 4-6 record there, going 2-3 each of the last two seasons. Elaine Sortino's Minutewomen opened the season 4-1 at the FAU Kickoff Classic (Feb. 6-8), including a 1-0 win over #5 Michigan, for the program's best start in 22 years. The Minutewomen started the 1987 season 5-0.
BROADCAST INFO
Audio of all five of UMass' games will be available on UMassAthletics.com via Sportsjuice.com. Live stats will also be available at UMassAthletics.com. Both come free of charge.
UMASS OFF TO STRONG 4-1 START
UMass opened the season at the FAU Kickoff Classic with an 8-3 victory over Maryland. That was followed by a 6-1 loss to the host Florida Atlantic Owls. On day two, the Minutewomen crushed Long Island, 8-0, and edged out Pittsburgh, 2-1. The tournament closed with a 1-0 upset victory over #5 Michigan.
Against Maryland, Brandice Balschmiter overcame some early control problems to strike out eight, while a home run from Jessica Serio and a grand slam from Whitney Mollica powered a five-run second inning. Samantha Salato added two RBI as the offense exploded for eight runs.
Against FAU, Kat Stauffer held the Minutewomen to one run on five hits, while Caitlyn Bliss had three hits for the Owls. Bailey Sanders pitched a complete game for UMass, striking out six. Audrey Boutin drove in the lone UMass run.
Against LIU, Michelle Libby went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI, while Mollica went 3-for-4 as well to lead UMass to an 8-0 win. Serio drove in a pair of runs and Balschmiter was dominant in the circle, fanning six while allowing just four hits.
Against Pittsburgh, UMass scored both its runs in the first inning on a 2-RBI single by Sarah Reeves. Sanders handled things from there for the Minutewomen, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out four.
Against Michigan, UMass once again struck in the first inning. Carly Normandin led off the game with a double and later scored on a RBI single by Mollica. Michigan starter Jordan Taylor was removed after just 1 1/3 innings, being replaced by Nikki Nemitz, who allowed just one UMass hit the rest of the game. That one run would be enough however, as Balschmiter scattered six hits and struck out six for the shutout victory.
MINUTEWOMEN CLIMB IN RANKINGS
The Minutewomen broke into the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Poll at #22 after being the top "receiving votes" team, falling just outside the top 25, at the start of the season. UMass now stands at #23, after not competing last week.
UMass opened the season ranked #24 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Preseason Poll, yet climbed to #18 after their 4-1 start and #15 after the squad's bye week.
UMASS TABBED TO WIN A-10 CHAMPIONSHIP
The Minutewomen were selected to win the 2009 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship after capturing four consecutive titles and going undefeated in Atlantic 10 play in the last two seasons.
UMass enters the 2009 season with a 38-0 A-10 regular season record. The Minutewomen's last loss in league play was to St. Bonaventure, 5-3, on May 5, 2006. This season, the Minutewomen are looking for their 14th league crown in the last 15 years.
SCOUTING NC STATE
UMass is winless in the all-time series against the Wolfpack, 0-2. The only meetings between the two teams occurred on April 24, 2005, where NC State swept the Minutewomen, 6-4, 6-0. Massachusetts could not put quality hits together, as the squad managed only five on the afternoon and left 13 runners on base. They also mismanaged the game on the field, committing six errors. Sister of current Minutewoman Carly Morin, Amanda Morin had a home run in game one as well as KJ Kelley, who stands second all-time at UMass in career home runs.
The Wolfpack is 2-1 on the season, with wins against #8/4 Oklahoma (2-1) and Indiana (3-2) and the only loss coming to #18/21 Houston (9-3). Last season, the team finished 31-27, losing to Virginia Tech at the ACC Championships. So far this season, freshman Stephanie Call has made a huge impact for NC State, batting .429 in 3-for-7 hitting, and winning the only game she pitched against Indiana, fanning ten batters.
MEETING OF THE MINDS AGAINST #9/10 TENNESSEE
The Minutewomen are 0-1 all time against Tennessee. In the only meeting between the teams, the then ranked #2 Lady Vols crushed the Minutewomen, 20-0, at the USF adidas Invitational Championship in Clearwater, Fla. on March 12, 2006. Then-freshman Brandice Balschmiter pitched two innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits with one strikeout.
Against #9/10 Tennessee, Coach Sortino will face husband and wife Co-Head Coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly. Karen, tied for seventh on the highest active winning percentage list, holds a .738 winning percentage, with a record of 608-215-1 in her 13th year of coaching. Husband Ralph owns a 576-206-1 record to put him just above Coach Sortino with a .736 percentage.
Tennessee has been unstoppable behind the plate this season. As a team, the Lady Vols are hitting .326, with 90 hits, 56 RBI, and eight home runs. Tennessee is led by sophomore Kelly Grieve and junior Tiffany Huff. Grieve owns a .500 batting average, with 18 hits and 15 runs. Huff has brought in 21 runners this season, recording 13 hits and blasting two home runs.
KEEPING # 6/6 UCLA IN THE PARK
The Minutewomen are winless against the Bruins of UCLA, losing all four meetings between the teams. On Feb. 11, 2006, All-American UCLA pitcher Anjelica Selden threw a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts to defeat the Minutewomen 8-0 at the Campbell/Cartier Classic. Only current UMass players to see action were Whitney Mollica, who struck out once, and Davina Hernandez, who was unable to move from first as a pinch runner for KJ Kelley.
Previous to that game, the last time the Minutewomen took on the Bruins was at the 1992 College World Series. UCLA downed the Minutewomen, 4-0 and 9-1, as the Minutewomen finished third overall. That was UMass' first appearance at the Women's College World Series, and the squad was the first Northeast team to make it that far since 1985. UCLA went on to win the National Championship.
In ten games this season, UCLA has jacked 23 home runs, led by senior outfielder Katie Schroeder with six. Schroeder maintains a batting average of .469 with 14 hits and 13 RBI. Junior catcher Kaila Shull has also stepped up for the Bruins, recording 12 hits, with four doubles and three home runs, and bringing in 15 runners.
REMATCH AGAINST #8/4 OKLAHOMA
• UMass is 3-5 against Oklahoma in the all-time series. The last time the Minutewomen met the Sooners, Oklahoma defeated the squad twice to knock them out of the Regional NCAA Tournament in Amherst during the 2007 campaign. In the first game, Balschmiter lost her first game in 22 starts, allowing only one earned run on seven hits and three walks, while striking out four. UMass had a runner in scoring position three times, yet was unable to capitalize as Oklahoma's Lauren Eckermann tossed a four-hit shutout with no walks and six strikeouts. After defeating Long Island, the Minutewomen faced the Sooners again, but could not string enough hits together and fell by a score of 6-3.
• Eight current Minutewomen have faced the Sooners. Whitney Mollica went 2-for-6 in the series, while Whitney Williams also recorded a hit and a run. Brandice Balschmiter pitched 11 innings, allowing five earned runs and 13 hits, with five strikeouts. Bailey Sanders saw two innings of action, allowing one run (unearned) on two hits.
• Leading the Sooners at the plate is junior Lindsey Vandever, who maintains a .522 batting average with 12 hits and nine RBI. Junior Amber Flores is also generating a lot of offense, as she is 10-for-20 this season, with 15 RBI, 11 runs scored, and three home runs. On the mound, pitcher D.J. Mathis holds a 1.79 ERA, with one shutout and 29 strikeouts in 27.1 innings.
• Joining Brandice Balschmiter, who went fifth overall, Oklahoma had two standouts selected in the 2009 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft. Left-handed pitcher D.J. Mathis was selected second overall, while first baseman Samantha Ricketts was selected in the third round, 12th overall. Both players were picked up by the Akron Racers.
MAKING IT TWO IN A ROW AGAINST #3/7 ARIZONA STATE
All-time, UMass is 1-10 against Arizona State, but won the last match on Feb. 9, 2003 at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz. The then-ranked #25 Minutewomen upset #13 Arizona State, 5-2, with a three-run eighth inning. Pitcher Kaila Holtz had an outstanding game, at the mound and the plate, pitching a complete game, allowing five hits and fanning four. At the plate, she went 3-for-4 with a home run. Previous to this win, the Minutewomen had dropped ten straight to the Sun Devils.
This season, led by rookie pitcher Hillary Bach, the Sun Devils are 11-1 overall. Bach is 6-0, with an ERA of 1.04 and three shutouts. In 40.1 innings pitched, Bach has rung up 34 batters, allowing only six earned runs.
At the plate, Arizona State's top performer has been senior Kaitlin Cochran, who maintains a .500 batting average with 12 hits, 12 RBI, five home runs, and 13 runs scored. Pitchers have also tried to avoid her this season, as she has been walked 16 times.
BALSCHMITER SENDS BATTERS BACK TO DUGOUT
Senior hurler Brandice Balschmiter earned her 20th Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week and fifth UMass/Dinn Bros. Athlete of the Week for her outstanding effort at the FAU "Kick-Off" Classic. Balschmiter maintained a 1.00 ERA over the tournament, with three wins and two shutouts. She fanned 20 batters in 21 innings, with only six walks. Her most impressive work came against the then-ranked #5 Michigan Wolverines, where she struck out six, scattered six hits and only walked one to give the Minutewomen a 1-0 upset.
In 2008, Balschmiter ranked fifth in the nation in hits allowed per seven innings with 3.64 hits per seven innings pitched. The leader of this category, Angela Tincher of Virginia Tech, allowed only 2.65 per game. Balschmiter fell just below opponent Anjelica Selden of UCLA (3.56), who the Minutewomen scored one run against in one inning on Feb. 22 in a losing 2-4 effort.
With 31 wins last season, Balschmiter tied for 11th in the NCAA in victories during the 2008 campaign. Of the top 10, the Minutewomen faced Morgan Melloh of Fresno State (42), Missy Pena of Stanford (37), and Becca Heteniak of DePaul (33) in 2008. Balschmiter's ERA of 0.66 was second in the nation to only Tincher's 0.63.
Overall, Balschmiter ranks second at UMass in appearances (139), innings pitched (839.2), wins (95), complete games (107), shutouts (48), and strikeouts (894). Realistically, she can pass Olympian Danielle Henderson in four of those categories. Balschmiter needs 22 appearances, 125 innings (a little under 18 games), 13 wins, and 24 complete games to pass the UMass legend. Balschmiter also ranks third all-time at UMass in ERA with 1.00 (leader maintained a 0.70) and stands at sixth in walks per outing with 1.49.
MOLLICA MAKING AN IMPACT
A first team ECAC All-Star, second team NFCA All-Northeast Region honoree, and first team Atlantic 10 All-Conference player, Whitney Mollica is looking to lead the Minutewomen further than they have ever traveled in postseason play. The senior captain is currently leading the team in batting average with a .467 percentage. She was 7-for-15 with a double, grand slam and five RBI at the FAU "Kick-Off" Classic.
Currently, Mollica is near the top of the charts in many UMass career batting records. In the RBI category, she stands tied for fifth, needing 24 to break the record. Mollica ranks fifth in home runs (23), fifth in slugging percentage (.567), sixth in batting average (.347), and 11th in extra-base hits (59). Always doing what is best for the team, Mollica also ranks fourth in sacrifices with 47.
In 2006, Mollica became the first player in Atlantic 10 history to earn Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in the same season. As a freshman, she broke the A-10 conference RBI record bringing 61 players home. Also as a rookie, she ranked seventh in the nation in RBI per game (1.07), 20th in slugging percentage and 30th in doubles per game (0.30).
NORMANDIN LEADS ON OFFENSE AND DEFENSE
Junior center fielder Carly Normandin got her season off to a great start at the FAU Kickoff Classic two weekends ago, hitting .353 (6-17) with a double and five runs scored. As Sortino's leadoff batter, Normandin thrives in those situations, reaching base at a .455 clip when starting an inning.
Not just a threat at the plate, Normandin's defense has proven it can alter games as well. Her catch of a low liner in the bottom of the sixth with two runners on base ended a Michigan threat and helped lead the Minutewomen to a 1-0 victory over the fifth-ranked Wolverines.
Junior centerfielder Carly Normandin burst on the scene last season and established herself as a game-changer on offense and defense. After seeing just 25 at-bats as a freshman, the Gardner, Mass. native won the starting job in centerfield as a sophomore and posted a .324 batting average, 14 doubles, six home runs, 36 RBI, and a .592 slugging pct (1st on team).
Normandin's postseason honors last year included NFCA First Team All-Region, ECAC Second Team All-Star, and Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team.
SALATO SETS CAREER HIGHS
Senior Samantha Salato started the last two seasons in right field, but makes the switch to left field this season. At the FAU Kickoff Classic, she hit .267 (4-15) driving in three and scoring twice.
During her 2008 campaign, Salato recorded career highs in multiple categories. The outfielder set personal bests in hits (43), RBI (32), homeruns (7), and runs scored (32). Of her 32 RBI, 12 came with two outs. Her junior year also marked the first time Salato had started every game in a season.
Salato was a rock in right field during her junior campaign. She maintained a 1.000 fielding percentage, recording no errors in 27 putouts after recording six errors in her sophomore season.
SERIO EMBRACES ROLE AS FIELD GENERAL
Junior catcher Jess Serio got her 2009 season off to the right start in the season-opener, blasting a her first career home run to leadoff the second inning vs. Maryland (2/6).
Serio is coming off a breakout season in 2008. An Atlantic 10 All-Conference second teamer, the field general led the team with a .365 batting average. Serio also had the most success in advancing runners with a .561 success rate. In 98 chances, she moved the runner over 55 times. The heart of the lineup, Serio also bats .358 with runners in scoring position.
Serio also leads the team from behind the plate. Starting all 55 games last year and the first five games this season at catcher, she handles the entire pitching staff well. Serio has also picked off nine runners on 23 stolen base attempts (39 percent).
SORTINO ASCENDS ACTIVE WIN LIST
Head Coach Elaine Sortino currently ranks number seven on the most active wins list (1,021) and number 11 on the highest active winning percentage list (.702). In 2008, she earned her 1,000th win on April 13 against the Temple Owls and went on to finish the season with 1,017 total wins. With only 431 losses and five ties, Sortino holds a .702 career winning percentage.
Coach Sortino will face Co-Head Coaches Ralph and Karen Weekly of the Tennessee Volunteers this weekend. Tied for seventh on the highest winning percentage list, Karen Weekly holds a 608-215-1 record in her 13th year of coaching (.738 winning percentage). Her husband, Ralph, owns a 576-206-1 record, maintaining a .736 winning percentage to land him just ahead of Sortino.
LIBBY HAS BREAKOUT OPENING WEEKEND
Junior infielder Michelle Libby came into 2009 with one career hit, but started 2009 with a breakout performance at the FAU Kickoff Classic. Starting one game at third base and two at designated player, she hit .625 (5-8) with three doubles, two RBI, and a 1.000 slugging percentage.
Libby's best performance came in her first start of the season, vs. Long Island (2/7), going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored.
SIX FRESHMEN LOOK TO MAKE AN IMPACT
Pitcher Sara Plourde has already shown maturity and composure on the mound despite being a rookie. The righthander from Bristol, Conn. earned first team All-State honors three times at Bristol Eastern High School and was named the 2008 Coca-Cola Player of the Year. Already showing improvement in the circle and ability at the plate, Plourde will have the opportunity to learn from two very experienced upperclassmen this year.
Rookie infielder Kyllie Magill displayed her defensive ability during the fall season. She started four out of five games at second base in the opening weekend and recorded her first hit against Maryland. As a four-year letterwinner at St. Raphael Academy in R.I., she earned All-State honors her junior and senior years. Magill batted .380 with ten stolen bases her senior year, and will be a good contribution to this Minutewomen squad.
Katie Bettencourt has the ability to make an immediate impact for UMass in the outfield and at the plate. Leading her team to back-to-back State Championship titles her junior and senior year, Bettencourt batted .588 with 20 RBI her senior year. A three-time first team All-State honoree, the Salem, N.H. native was an offensive force at the plate during fall ball.
Adding depth to the infield is freshman Tawny Palmieri, who batted .513 with 15 doubles her senior year. The Peabody Veterans Memorial High School Athlete of the Year will add power to the UMass lineup as well.
Versatile freshman Jordan Storro has the ability to play infield or outfield for the Minutewomen this year. As a senior at Leominster High School, Storro batted .576 with a .614 on-base percentage and 30 RBI. Storro adds speed to the UMass line and could help in key base-running situations to go along with her bat.
Stephanie Mix finished her career at Cicero-North Syracuse with a .336 batting average. A speedster that bats from the left side of the plate, Mix was named to the second team All-League three times and amassed a record of 89-19 over four years. For the Minutewomen, Mix will make an immediate impact on the base path and at the plate as she gains more experience.
BALSCHMITER WATCHED BY NATION
The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) named senior pitcher Brandice Balschmiter to its initial "Watch List" for the 8th Annual USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award.
This is the third year in a row that Balschmiter has been named to the preseason watch list of 50.
On April 1, a list of 25 finalists for the award will be released by the ASA.
In 2007, Whitney Mollica joined Balschmiter on the preseason list.
Balschmiter was also named an ESPN Preseason All-American Second Teamer.
MINUTEWOMEN START SEASON RANKED
UMass opens the season ranked #24 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Preseason Poll. UMass finished 2008 ranked #23 in the poll after going 42-13 on its way to the Atlantic 10 Championship and its 14th-straight NCAA berth. The last time the Minutewomen were ranked in a preseason poll was 2007 when they opened the season 24th as well.
The Minutewomen were the top "receiving votes" team in the USA Today/NFCA Preseason Poll, falling just outside the top 25. UMass finished the 2008 season ranked #25 in that poll.
UMASS TABBED TO WIN A-10 CHAMPIONSHIP
The Minutewomen were selected to win the 2009 Atlantic 10 Softball Championship after capturing four consecutive titles and going undefeated in Atlantic 10 play in the last two seasons.
UMass enters the 2009 season with a 38-0 A-10 regular season record. The Minutewomen's last loss in league play was to St. Bonaventure, 5-3, on May 5, 2006. This season, the Minutewomen are looking for their 14th league crown in the last 15 years.
MINUTEWOMEN FACE CHALLENGING SCHEDULE
The Minutewomen always play a challenging schedule against the nation's best and this season is no different. UMass will play 10 NCAA Tournament teams from last season, highlighted by national champion Arizona State, as well as perennial powers Alabama, UCLA, Michigan, and Oklahoma.
Seven ranked teams from the 2009 NFCA preseason poll can be found on UMass' schedule (Arizona State, Alabama, UCLA, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Georgia).
Five out of the top six teams in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Poll can be found on UMass' schedule (#2 Alabama, #3 Arizona State, #4 UCLA, #5 Michigan, and #6 Oklahoma).
UMass plays three out of the eight Women's College World Series teams from a season ago (Arizona State, Alabama, and UCLA).
