Head Coach Harry Sauter

Head Coach Harry Sauter is entering his 14th season at the helm of the UML softball program. Elected Coach of the Year by his colleagues in the Northeast-10 Conference at the end of the 2005 season, Sauter is the winningest coach in Lowell history with a career record of 333-274-3.

Over the last nine seasons, Sauter has guided UMass Lowell to a 255-179 record, an average of 28.3 victories per season and three appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

The River Hawk program has continued to peak, highlighted by last year's 30-22 clip (19-9 in the NE-10) which saw them capture their first-ever NE-10 Tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament Northeast Region semifinal – UML's third NCAA bid in the last five years.

Sauter guided UML to a school-record 34 wins (34-22) in 2006 and its second straight second-place finish in the NE-10. Along the way, Sauter earned his 300th career victory on May 4, 2006 against Southern Connecticut. Additionally, the River Hawks reached the NCAA tournament for the third time in program history.

In 2005, Sauter led the River Hawks to a second-place finish in the NE-10 behind Le Moyne, with a conference record of 23-5 and an overall record of 27-11. His 2003 squad went 30-18-1 and earned its second-ever NCAA Tournament invitation, which included a memorable 17-inning win over American International (4-2).

Sauter reached the 200-win plateau midway through the 2003 campaign, guiding the River Hawks to their first NCAA appearance in 17 years and the second 30-win season in five years. The River Hawks advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Northeast Regional before falling to Adelphi (2-0).

A 1962 graduate of the University of Miami (FL), Sauter came to UML from Melbourne Central Catholic High School in Florida, where he coached both softball and women’s soccer. His Melbourne softball team converted from slow-pitch to fast-pitch, and won the district championship in their first year.

Sauter and his wife Lorna reside in Nashua, NH. They have three grown children and four granddaughters.

Assistant Coach Kristine Botto Drust

Kristine Botto Drust enters her seventh year as an assistant coach, after an outstanding career at UMass Lowell.

A two-time All-American catcher, Drust remains prominent in the UML record books as she established several single-season and career records. She remains the career leader in stolen bases (77), stolen base percentage (.895, 77/86), singles (205) as well as singles (66) and steals (33) in a season.

Drust had been the previous career leader in games played (185) and at bats (607). She remains among career leaders in many other categories, including runs (126, 3rd), hits (208, 3rd), and batting (.343, 3rd).

In addition to earning All-America status, Drust was also a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) First Team standout and all-conference first team selection. She was also involved in UML's community service efforts and served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for two years.

Known throughout the Northeast as an exceptionally quick slapper and bunter, Drust joined the Connecticut Classics following graduation from UML, and led the team in hitting for three seasons.

Drust also played for the New England Riptide in the 2005 and 2006 seasons, helping it to the 2006 National Pro Fastpitch Championship over her former team, the Connecticut Brakettes.

In 2004, Drust led the Brakettes in hitting with a .396 average as they won their 26th ASA national championship.

Drust lives in Middletown, CT, with her husband Don, a former UML football standout.

Assistant Coach Kristen Mahoney

Perhaps the greatest pitcher in school history, Kristen Mahoney enters her first year as pitching coach at UMass Lowell following a career full of honors and team success.

A three-time NE-10 all-star and two-time NFCA Northeast Region standout, Mahoney helped lead UML to a four-year record of 117-80 which included trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2006 and 2007.

Mahoney graduated last spring having set nine career records, including wins (70), strikeouts (598), shutouts (25), complete games (77) and innings pitched (673.0).

Mahoney enjoyed perhaps her best season a year ago, in which she went 19-10 with a school record 207 strikeouts and a 1.42 earned run average. Along the way, she was named the Most Valuable Player of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament, leading the River Hawks to their first-ever title.

At the NCAA Tournament, Mahoney helped eighth-seeded UML to wins over No. 1 Le Moyne (4-1) and No. 5 Georgian Court (3-0) before falling to host/No. 2 C.W. Post (2-0) and No. 3 Bryant (2-0).

Among Northeast-10 Conference leaders, Mahoney was prominent in eight categories last year, including strikeouts looking (first, 58), innings pitched (first), strikeouts (second), wins (second), ERA (third) and opposing batting average (third, .199), among others.

Mahoney was also an excellent student as she graduated with a 3.522 cumulative average in psychology. She was a three-time NE-10 All-Academic standout and a member of the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic District 1 Softball Team. Additionally, she was the a finalist for the 2007 Laurie Mann Award, presented to the UML student-athlete for excellence in athletics, academics, community service and leadership.

Mahoney is currently earning her master's degree in education at UML. She lives in Burlington, MA.