University of Connecticut Athletics
No. 23 UMass Holds Connecticut Softball To No-Hitter
5/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 8, 2001
AMHERST, Mass. (May 8) - Concluding its 2001 regular season, the University of Connecticut softball team dropped a 10-0 no-hitter to the No. 23 nationally-ranked University of Massachusetts in a non-league single game Tuesday evening at the UMass Softball Complex in Amherst, Mass.
In the bottom of the first inning, UMass took a 6-0 lead by taking advantage of six hits and a pair of errors by the Huskies' infield. The Minutewomen's Teri Rooney and Scooter Wheeler knocked in off-the-wall RBI doubles to spark the six-run inning. UMass' Brandi Cross followed up in the next frame with a solo home run to left center to stretch the game to 7-0.
The Huskies finally got on base in the top of the third, when sophomore right fielder Katie Kestranek (Manlius, N.Y.) advanced to first on an error by Wheeler at third base and would be UConn's only runner to be stranded all game. Cross sent a two-run double to right center in UMass' 3rd to put the Minutewomen up 10-0.
Trying to stay alive with the eight-run mercy rule nearing, senior first base Abbie Link (Chalfont, Pa.) received her 24th walk of the year and advanced to second on a passed ball. Junior Lisa Girolamo (Ashby, Mass.) came close to setting up a UConn run, but lined into a 6-4 double play.
UMass pitcher Jennifer Hadley, who improved her overall record to 16-6, delivered the no-hitter in five innings of work. Sophomore southpaw Claire Hesson (Kennebunkport, Maine) took the loss to go to 5-3 for the season, with senior right-hander Megan Biddle (Bear, Del.) covering for the close.
UConn (BIG EAST) moves to 32-21 overall, while UMass (Atlantic 10) improves to 40-11. Both teams will head to their respective conference tournaments tomorrow. The 10-0 shutout marked the most runs scored by an opponent in the all- time single game team records, since a 9-0 shutout versus Oklahoma in 1997. The Huskies, however, still hold the all-time series advantage with a 38-34-1 record.
Connecticut travels to the 2001 BIG EAST Conference Championship Tournament May 10-12 in Villanova, Pa. The third-seeded Huskies meet second-seeded Villanova in the league postseason opener at 11 a.m., while top-seeded Notre Dame meets fourth-seeded Seton Hall at 1:30 p.m. The tournament will be based on double elimination play.
(23) UMass 10, Connecticut 0 Connecticut 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 3 (23) UMass 6 1 3 0 x - 10 10 1UC - Claire Hesson, Caryn Haskins (2), Megan Biddle (3) and Mandy Simjian. UMass - Jennifer Hadley and Jamie Cahalan. WP - Jennifer Hadley (16-6). LP - Claire Hesson (5-3). E - Simjian, Cook 2 (UC), Wheeler (UMass). DP - UMass 1. LOB - UConn 1, UMass 3. 2B - Rooney, Cross, Wheeler (UMass). HR - Cross (UMass). SB - Wheeler, Budrewicz (UMass). Time: 1:25, Attendance: 305.
2001 BIG EAST Softball Championship (May 10-12)
Sullivan Field, Villanova, Pa.
Thursday, May 10
Game 1 No. 2 Villanova vs. No. 3 Connecticut 11 a.m.
Game 2 No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Seton Hall 1:30 p.m.
Friday, May 11
Game 3 Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 10 a.m.
Game 4 Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 Noon
Game 5 Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 2 p.m.
Saturday, May 12
Game 6 Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 Noon
Game 7 Same teams as Game 6, if necessary 2 p.m.
