Danielle Henderson - UMass

UMass

Freshman: Henderson began her career by nabbing All-Atlantic 10 honors and claiming "Rookie of The Year." She also broke the top-10 for UMass season history for her 0.96 ERA (NCAA top-10), 23 wins and 11 shutouts.

She threw her first no-hitter on May 12 vs. the Marist Red Foxes.

Sophomore: Henderson would earn her first All-American and Atlantic 10 Pitcher of Year awards, as well as tossing two no-hitters and breaking the UMass season records for strikeouts, innings pitched and strikeout ratio. Her 25 wins and 15 shutouts were at the time both second best in school history. For the year, Henderson ranked in the NCAA top-10 again for ERA and strikeout ratio.

On April 26, 1997, Henderson struck out a then school and a career best 18 Fordham Rams in regulation, this was tied third all-time for an NCAA single game and now is tied fourth overall. The day prior on April 25, Henderson also began a 63 scoreless innning streak that endured until May 17 for a then career best.

The UMass Minutewomen made it to the Women's College World Series on Henderson's arm but failed to win a game. However, Henderson was selected to the All-Tournament Team.

Junior: Throwing 5 no-hitters (one perfect game vs. the Fordham Rams on March 29, 1998) earned her all-season honors from conference and the NCAA, moving from Third to the Second Team. Henderson broke four school records with her 30 wins, 430 strikeouts, 23 shutouts (still the record) and a strikeout ratio of nearly 12. In addition, she again cracked the top-10 NCAA Division I season records with her strikeouts (led the NCAA), shutouts and then second best all-time season strikeout ratio mark, which also led the NCAA that year.

A return trip to the Women's College World Series ended by shutout as the Minutewomen lost their second game to Oklahoma State Cowgirls.

Senior: Henderson posted 6 no-hitters, two perfect games and repeated all-season honors, including a First Team All-American highlight and her third straight Atlantic 10 Pitcher of The Year. Henderson won 30 games, struck out a then school and conference record 465 batters (which led the nation) and tied the best season ERA mark of 0.39 at UMass. Her strikeout ratio of 14 set a new NCAA season mark that is now 6th all-time. Her 105 scoreless innings streak from March 16 - May 2, 1999 remains the NCAA record.

Henderson closed her career at UMass with the best strikeouts, ERA, shutouts, wins and strikeout ratio numbers ever, of which she still owns the ERA and shutout crowns. She holds the same records for the Atlantic 10. Finally, in the NCAA Henderson is a top-10 shutout pitcher all-time.

In May 1999, Henderson was awarded the Honda Sports Award as the best softball player in the country.