After 11 days in sunny Florida, the Massachusetts softball team will return to the friendly surroundings of Amherst, as the Minutewomen (9-11) host Vermont in their home opener today, an afternoon doubleheader slated to begin at 2 p.m. UMass’ first 2004 home game will challenge the nation’s longest home winning streak of 58 straight games won at the UMass Softball Complex.
The last time UMass lost at home was a 3-1 loss to Dayton on April 30, 2000. The Maroon and White only managed three hits in the loss to the Flyers. Former UMass pitcher Jen Hadley avenged the loss, as she blanked the Flyers, 2-0. Hadley’s win came on the same day in a doubleheader as the loss, marking the start of the streak. Since the Complex opened in 2000, UMass has amassed a 70-3 record with all three losses in the opening year.
In her 30th season with the Minutewomen, head coach Elaine Sortino is only one win shy of her 900th with a record of 899-393-4 (.695). A win against the Catamounts seems to be a safe bet, as the Maroon and White have never lost to UVM. UMass has a commanding lead in the all-time series, 41-0 with 35 under Sortino.
The Catamounts have struggled early this season, compiling a 3-12 record and are coming off four losses at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla. Vermont’s offensive output is a major concern, as the Catamounts have given up 78 runs and scored only 27, without a home run on the season.
The one statistic both teams have in common is each has a freshman leading the team in batting average. Vermont freshman Kate DeForge has had no trouble with the bat, boasted by her .332 batting average, but has still not scored in 15 games. The only other Catamount batting over .300 is also a freshman, Kate Ramsey at .310.
UMass freshman Candice Molinari and her .370 batting average has been a major boost this season after the Minutewomen lost three .300 hitters to graduation in 2003. Molinari is the only player batting over .300, but the Minutewomen have made up for slow start to the offense in other areas.
The UMass infield has turned 10 double plays this season, which is three more than it did in 49 games a year ago. They have also stolen 30 bases out of 38 attempts after setting the school record with 103 last year.
Sophomore K.J. Kelley is working her way up the all-time UMass homerun very quickly. After smashing eight homers last season, Kelley has picked up where she left off with five homeruns, including two game-winners and a grand slam. She also leads the club with 16 RBIs.
The impending weather could cancel the Thursday doubleheader, as field conditions have already changed the schedule this week for UMass. Yesterday’s game at Boston University, their first contest scheduled within the Northeastern region, was postponed until due to poor field conditions. The BU game is rescheduled for April 12 at 3 p.m.
