The 1988 Southeastern Massachusetts University softball team was the first team in school history to qualify for the NCAA Tournament at a time with no automatic qualifiers. After splitting their first two games of the season in Florida, the Corsairs rattled off nine consecutive wins and 16 of their next 18, which included a 1-1 tie against Bridgewater State. The Corsairs advanced to the ECAC Tournament where the team went 1-2 with a 10-1 win over Westfield State and qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

Offensively, the team was led by seniors Debora O'Reilly (.315 BA, 11 RBI, 34 H) and Nancy Boucher (.273 BA, 21 H), juniors Kelley Lewis (.305 BA, 26 RBI, 4 HR, 7 2B, 3 3B) and Elizabeth MacMillan (.253 BA, 12 RBI), and sophomores Dawn McKenney (.370 BA, 11 RBI) and Jennifer Walton (.297 BA, 20 RBI).

In the circle, it was all Debra Halstead all the time. The junior pitched 199.3 innings of the 205 total for the season. She compiled a 20-8 record with a 0.91 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 29 starts. Halstead threw 23 complete games and only walked 28 out of the 753 batters she faced and allowed just 19 extra base hits.

The team finished the year with a 20-8-1 record, which currently stands as the eighth most wins in a season all-time.