The UMass Minutewomen softball team represents the University of Massachusetts Amherst in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). The Minutewomen are currently led by head coach Danielle Henderson. The team plays its home games at Sortino Field located on the university's campus.
History Since joining the Atlantic 10 Conference in 1983, the Minutewomen have had a significant amount of success. UMass has won the Atlantic 10's regular season championship 24 times, the conference tournament 23 times, and qualified for the NCAA Division I softball tournament 21 times, all conference records.
The program rose to prominence after the hiring of Elaine Sortino in 1980. Under Sortino, the Minutewomen had one losing season in 34 years and advanced to the Women's College World Series three times, doing so in 1992, 1997, and 1998. In the 1992 NCAA Division I softball tournament, UMass qualified for the Women's College World Series after defeating and eliminating Connecticut and Utah State. After being defeated by eventual National Champions UCLA, the Minutewomen were sent to the loser's bracket. The team went on to defeat Florida State and Long Beach State, advancing to the final four of the tournament. They were again defeated and eliminated by UCLA.
In the 1997 tournament, UMass hosted their own regional for the first time in program history. The team defeated Boston College twice and Colorado State three times to advance to the Women's College World Series. The Minutewomen were eliminated from the tournament after losing to eventual National Champions Arizona and Fresno State. In the 1998 tournament, UMass again hosted their own regional and advanced to the Women's College World Series after defeating Boston College once and Oklahoma twice. The team was eliminated from the tournament after losing to Washington and Oklahoma State.
Sortino was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year 11 times, winning the award each year from 1991 to 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002, 2007 to 2009, and 2012. Kristi Stefanoni, who replaced Sortino after she died in 2013, was named A-10 Coach of the Year in 2018. UMass has won A-10 Player of the Year 15 times in its history, doing so each year from 1990 to 1993, 1996, 1999, 2001 to 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2018. The program has won A-10 Pitcher of the Year 17 times, winning in 1994, 1995, 1997 to 1999, 2001 to 2003, 2006 to 2012, and 2018.
Current head coach and former pitcher Danielle Henderson was named to the 2000 Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal with Team USA. Coaching history 1975–1976 Jean Follansbee 4–15 1977–1978 Diane Thompson 36–10 1979 Chet Gladchuck 26–2–1 1980–2013 Elaine Sortino 1,185–508–6 2014–2021 Kristi Stefanoni 167–158–1 2022–present Danielle Henderson 36–66
Roster 2024 UMass Minutewomen roster Pitchers 6 – Julianne Bolton – Junior 24 – Jenna Bradley – Senior 22 – Natalee Horton – Sophomore 51 – Hannah Streicher – Freshman
Catchers 8 – Lydia Castro – Junior 31 – Olivia Packard – Sophomore Infielders 21 – Grace Cadden – Junior 10 – Riain Keefe – Sophomore 13 – Bella Pantoja – Senior 25 – Angie Rama – Sophomore 23 – Taylor Richardson – Junior 7 – Taylor Spexarth – Senior 88 – Odyssey Torres – Freshman
Outfielders 67 – Grace Colucci – Freshman 15 – Jordyn Graime – Senior 5 – Riley Kairer – Freshman 17 – Payge Suggs – Senior 2 – Giana Wameling – Junior 12 – Chloe Whittier – Senior
Utility 19 – Sarah Keagy – Senior 3 – Abby Packard – Senior Reference: Season-by-season results
Season cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic
See also List of NCAA Division I softball programs
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