Feb. 11, 2009

AMHERST, Mass. - With the release of both major college softball polls on Tuesday, UMass rose six spots to #18 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll and broke into the USA Today/NFCA Poll with a #22 ranking. The Minutewomen went 4-1 last weekend at the FAU "Kickoff" Classic, defeating Maryland, Long Island, Pittsburgh, and #5 Michigan, falling only to Florida Atlantic. Elaine Sortino's Minutewomen are off to their best start in 22 years, since opening the year 5-0 in 1987.

Senior pitcher Brandice Balschmiter was named UMass/Dinn Bros. Athlete of the Week after recording a 3-0 record and a 1.00 ERA for the weekend.

Against Maryland, eight different players recorded hits, with senior Whitney Mollica blowing the game open with a grand slam in the second inning. Balschmiter threw a complete game, fanning eight batters for a final score of 8- 3. Facing the host team however, the Minutewomen's bats fell silent as UMass lost to FAU 6-1.

On the second day of competition, the Minutewomen defeated LIU (8-0) and Pittsburgh (2-1). Balschmiter threw a shutout against the Blackbirds, while Mollica and Michelle Libby tallied three hits a piece. Bailey Sanders earned her first win of the season against Pittsburgh, getting help from Sarah Reeves with two RBI.

In the final game, UMass upset #5/8 Michigan 1-0 on the back of Balschmiter who threw seven shutout innings, scattering six hits. Mollica singled up the middle to score Carly Normandin, who led off the game with a double to right field, for the only run of the game.

UMass has six teams remaining on its schedule that are ranked in both polls, including five out of the top six ranked teams in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll.

The Minutewomen have a weekend off before they head to Cathedral City, Calif. for the Cathedral City Classic, Feb. 20-22. There they will face a tough five- game slate with match-ups against NC State, #11/12 Tennessee (4-1), #4/4 UCLA (3-1), #7/3 Oklahoma (4-1), and National Champion #3/6 Arizona State (4-1).