Hipple hits 300 wins at CMS; Athenas break into top-10 in NFCA poll

CLAREMONT, Calif. – In her 11^th season at the helm of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball, head coach Betsy Hipple earned her 300^th win at CMS with the 4-2 victory over Redlands on Saturday. With the sweep of the Bulldogs, Hipple's record at CMS now stands 301-145-1.

So far in Hipple's tenure at CMS, the Athenas have two SCIAC Championships (2010 and '11), three SCIAC Tournament Championships (2012, '13 and '14), an NCAA Regional Championship (2014), and six NCAA appearances (2009-14). The Athenas have posted five 30-plus win seasons since she began in 2006, and the only ones in the program's history.

Another coaching milestone was hit earlier this season as Hipple achieved her 400^th win overall. Prior to Hipple's appointment at CMS, she coached at Hunter College in New York where she led them to a 108-76 record in five seasons. During the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic hosted in Columbus, Ga., Hipple hit the 400 win mark with the Athenas' 2-1 victory over Kean in the first day of the tournament. CMS went 4-2 in their second appearance in the tournament.

Due to the program's success in the 2016 season, CMS broke into the top-10 in the most recent NFCA poll. On Wednesday, March 30, the NFCA released its sixth poll in the 2016 season and ranked CMS at No. 10. This is the first time CMS has been ranked in the top-10 since Feb. 25, 2015 when CMS came in at No. 9.

NFCA Release

CMS has seven SCIAC double headers left on the schedule in the regular season and currently boasts a 20-5-1 record overall and a 13-1 record in conference. Next up, the Athenas travel to Occidental on Saturday, April 2 for games at 12 and 2 p.m.

CMS Softball Schedule

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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