University of the Pacific

The 2001 Pacific softball team earned induction into the Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame in recognition of becoming the first 50-win team in program history, ending the season at 50-13 overall and 16-5 in the Big West.

The Tigers posted an impressive 25-2 record at Bill Simoni Field and set a new school record with 16 straight victories from Feb. 25 to March 31. Hallmark wins included triumphs over No. 22 Oregon, No. 11 Fresno State and No. 14 Oregon State. The 50 wins remains the best single season mark in program history. 

The 18th-ranked squad reached the finals of the NCAA Regionals in Palo Alto, going 3-2 in the double-elimination tournament with wins over Central Michigan, Nebraska and host Stanford. The Tigers fell one win shy of qualifying for the program’s second-ever appearance in the Women’s College World Series. They beat Stanford by a score of 2-0 to force a winner-take-all rematch before falling to the Cardinal in the Regional Final.

Cindy Ball was named the 2001 Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year and was a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Third Team selection following the season. Estee Okumura and Adrienne Ratajczak were named to the NFCA All-West Region squad, while Brian Kolze was named the Big West Coach of the Year following the team’s record-setting season. Kolze and assistant coach Heather Tarr were named the 2001 NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

In total, Pacific had seven players earn All-Big West honors: Barbara Moody joined Ball, Ratajczak and Okumara on the First Team while Jennifer Dacre, Kelly Lowry and Angele Alves were Second Team selections.