Maroon and White players to be donning some new colors in China

Softball
Domenic Poli

It looks like UMass may send two softball players to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China - but they will be representing countries other than the United States.

Having recently earned citizenship in Italy, graduated center fielder Candice Molinari will button up her jersey for the land of her ancestors and junior outfielder Davina Hernandez is trying out for the Puerto Rican national team.

Hernandez flew to P.R. last Friday for tryouts and will find out Monday if she will be on the team.

Stay tuned to "From the Press Box" to see if Hernandez will represent Puerto Rico in Beijing.

Molinari, Balschmiter receive Easton All-American honors

Softball
Domenic Poli

Massachusetts senior center fielder Candice Molinari and sophomore pitcher Brandice Balschmiter were recently named Easton All-Americans. Balschmiter received second-team honors, while Molinari was elected to the third team.

Both players were third team All-Americans in 2006.

Molinari finished her fourth and final season at UMass by aligning herself with an elite group of people. With a batting average of .401, she became just the ninth player in UMass history to hit over .400 in a season.

The fleet-of-foot center fielder swiped 21 bases out of 27 attempts.

She committed only one error all season in the outfield and gunned down seven runners.

She also had 67 hits, 41 runs scored and 15 RBIs.

Balschmiter went 29-10 over the course of the season. She made 44 appearances for the Maroon and White with 38 starts, 34 complete games, two saves 14 shutouts and two no-hitters. She surrendered 52 earned runs while letting up 184 hits and 57 walks in 262.1 innings pitched.

The 6-foot-1 righty also struck out 269 batters and held opponents to a .189 average.

Minutewomen win fifth straight.

Softball
Jeremy Rice

The Massachusetts softball team won the opening game of today's double-header against Rhode Island (6-15, 1-2 Atlantic 10). The Minutewomen (16-12-1, 3-0 A-10) hosted the games that were originally slated for the Rams' home in Kingston, R.I.

Sophomore Brandice Balschmiter was stellar inside the circle, pitching a complete game, allowing no runs on a pair of hits. She continues to blow away opposing offenses, striking out 11 batters.

Designated player Amanda Acampora hit a two-run home run in the second inning, driving in Lauren Proctor.

UMass coach Elaine Sortino changed her lineup around, moving Acampora to the sixth spot, and bringing second baseman Stacy Cullington (who has been on fire lately) to the cleanup spot.

Third baseman Whitney Mollica was back in her usual spot, batting third.

Senior Candice Molinari did not play, replaced in center field by Davina Hernandez, who is also slated for the second game as well.

Check back later for updates from the the nightcap between UMass and URI.