The UMass softball team isn’t looking at the postseason as a fresh start. The Minutewomen are trying to keep their momentum going.
Atlantic 10 upstart seems like an off fit for UMass after decades of dynastic dominance in conference play. But after enduring three straight losing seasons, the Minutewomen entered 2016 picked seventh in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll.
A 6-16 start in nonconference did little to debunk those predictions. But UMass got better as the season advanced and head to Virginia as one of the conference’s hottest teams at 24-22 (15-6 A-10).
“The way we’re feeling hasn’t happened in a really long time,” UMass coach Kristi Stefanoni said. “I know they’re feeling really good. I am too and my whole staff is. This team is walking with a different level of confidence.”
UMass is the No. 3 seed in the double-elimination tournament and will face No. 6 George Washington, Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
The Minutewomen are 4-2 against the top two seeds. They went 1-2 vs. No. 1 Fordham in their first conference series in March and dominated No. 2 Dayton this weekend — 4-0, 7-0 and 7-1 — a three-game stretch that included twice knocking all-conference pitcher Manda Cash out of the game.
“It worked out how we thought it would. We struggled in the beginning and we had a lot of ups and downs,” said Stefanoni, who pointed to back-to-back mid-April wins over longtime regional rivals as a turning point. “We hit our stride when we played UConn and BC and never looked back from there. They were extremely crucial in terms of our development.”
Those victories came early in a seven-game winning streak that blossomed into an 11-1 record over the regular season’s final dozen games.
Meg Colleran and Taylor Carbone have pitched well down the stretch. Stefanoni said Colleran would start this weekend, but both pitchers will be warmed up heading into each game.
Whomever isn’t pitching will play first base, allowing Stefanoni the freedom of switching back and forth between them as frequently as batter to batter if she chooses.
Carbone has been strong at the plate as well. She was the team’s co-hitting leader at .381 to go with and six home runs and a team-high 37 RBIs.
Jena Cozza matched Carbone’s .381 and had a breakout year with 11 home runs, 24 RBIs and a league-best 104 total bases.
HONORS — Six UMass players earned postseason honors from the Atlantic 10. Sophomores Colleran and Cozza each earned first-team all-league honors, while Carbone, a senior, was on the second.
Freshmen Kaycee Carbone, Erin Stacevicz and Kaitlyn Stavinoha were all on the all rookie-team.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage