Sortino nearing 800th career win as softball coach

he softball team opens its conference season Friday at LaSalle with a chance to bring coach Elaine Sortino her 800th win. A sweep of the doubleheader would give Sortino another place in the record books.

     Sortino already has the 16th highest number of victories as an NCAA softball coach, and a victory in both games would make her the 16th coach to achieve 800 wins.

     The team's record is 13-10 so far this season. Last weekend, the Minutewomen took two games each from Seton Hall and Villanova, host of the Atlantic 10/Big East Challenge. UMass had strong pitching from senior Kaila Holtz, who threw back-to-back shutouts and evened her season record at 6-6. Senior Brandi Cross hit three home runs during the four-game series.