Elaine Sortino, who led the University of Massachusetts softball team to 23 conference titles, 21 trips to the NCAA regionals and three trips to the Women's College World Series in 34 years at the helm, has died. She was 64.

Athletic Director John McCutcheon says Sortino died Sunday after a two-year battle with cancer.

McCutcheon says Sortino's death is a "tremendous loss for everybody at UMass," and the nation's softball community.

Sortino is one of just five active coaches to have more than 1,100 career victories. She has an overall record of 1,185-508-6.

The native of Yonkers, N.Y., has coached 28 All-Americans, including Danielle Henderson, who in 1999 received the Honda Award as the nation's top collegiate softball player.

McCutcheon says funeral and memorial plans are pending.

[Associated Press]

More From WBSM-AM/AM 1420