# 2005 Michigan Wolverines softball team

The 2005 Michigan Wolverines softball team was an American college softball team that represented the University of Michigan during the 2005 NCAA softball season. The Wolverines, led by head coach Carol Hutchins in her twenty-first season, played their home games at Alumni Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines finished the season with a 65–7 record, setting a program record for wins. They competed in the Big Ten Conference, where the team finished first with a 15–2 conference record.
They won the 2005 Big Ten Conference softball tournament and qualified for the NCAA Division I softball tournament, reaching the postseason for the eleventh consecutive year. They defeated UCLA in three games in the finals of the 2005 Women's College World Series to win their first championship in program history. They became the first team in the Big Ten to win the Women's College World Series, and the first team east of the Mississippi River to win the NCAA Division I Softball championship.

## Preseason

The Wolverines were ranked No. 8 in the nation according to the USA Today/NFCA and No. 12 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason poll, becoming the top-ranked Big Ten school in both listings. Jessica Merchant and Nicole Motycka were both named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year preseason watch list.

## Schedule

2005 Michigan Wolverines Softball Game Log :
Regular Season :
February
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossAttendanceOverall RecordB1G Record
February 11vs. TennesseeStephanie L.C. Park Las Vegas, NVPostponed
February 11vs. UCFStephanie L.C. ParkPostponed
February 12vs. BaylorNo. 8Stephanie L.C. Park6–7Ferguson (4–0)Motycka (0–1)4170–1–
February 12vs. UC Santa BarbaraNo. 8Stephanie L.C. Park7–2Ritter (1–0)Sommer (0–1)—1–1–
February 13vs. UtahNo. 8Stephanie L.C. Park7–1Motycka (1–1)Nielsen (3–1)872–1–
February 13vs. OregonNo. 8Stephanie L.C. Park9–0 (5)Ritter (2–0)Cook (2–1)—3–1–
February 18vs. North Carolina StateNo. 8FAU Field Boca Raton, FL3–0Wilson (1–0)Sims (4–1)—4–1–
February 18vs. PittsburghNo. 8FAU Field3–0Ritter (3–0)Belardinelli (0–1)—5–1–
February 19vs. RutgersNo. 8FAU Field8–0 (5)Motycka (2–1)Crosby (0–2)1206–1–
February 19vs. Florida AtlanticNo. 8FAU Field12–3 (6)Ritter (4–0)Freel (3–3)1287–1–
February 20vs. Florida AtlanticNo. 8FAU Field9–1 (5)Wilson (3–0)Freel (3–4)1198–1–
February 25vs. South CarolinaNo. 8South Commons Columbus, GA9–3Motycka (3–1)Pouliot (0–2)—9–1–
February 25vs. No. 13 Georgia TechNo. 8South Commons4–1Ritter (5–0)Sallinger (8–1)—10–1–
February 26vs. Southern IllinoisNo. 8South Commons3–0Wilson (3–0)Harre (1–4)—11–1–
February 26vs. CreightonNo. 8South Commons7–0Motycka (4–1)Nielsen (4–2)—12–1–
February 27vs. No. 21 Florida StateNo. 8South CommonsPostponed
February 27Championship GameNo. 8South CommonsPostponed :
March
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossAttendanceOverall RecordB1G Record
March 1at No. 15 FloridaNo. 8Florida Softball Stadium Gainesville, FL4–0Ritter (6–0)Stevens (5–4)—13–1–
March 1at No. 15 FloridaNo. 8Florida Softball Stadium4–1Wilson (4–0)Knowles (3–1)—14–1–
March 2at UCFNo. 8UCF Softball Complex Orlando, FL4–1Ritter (7–0)Enders (6–6)5815–1–
March 2at UCFNo. 8UCF Softball Complex7–0Wilson (5–0)McIntyre (6–1)7816–1–
March 4vs. Tennessee ChattanoogaNo. 7USF Softball Field Tampa, FL2–1 (8)Wilson (6–0)Swarthout (5–5)—17–1–
March 4at South FloridaNo. 7USF Softball Field9–0 (5)Ritter (8–0)Urbanik (5–4)—18–1–
March 5vs. TempleNo. 7USF Softball Field4–0Wilson (7–0)Nacianceno (0–1)—19–1–
March 5vs. No. 16 FloridaNo. 7USF Softball Field6–2Ritter (9–0)Stevens (6–4)—20–1–
March 6vs. PittsburghNo. 7USF Softball Field9–0 (5)Wilson (8–0)Belardinelli (2–5)—21–1–
March 17at Cal State FullertonNo. 5Titans Softball Complex Fullerton, CA3–2Wilson (9–0)Weekley (1–1)—22–1–
March 17vs. No. 24 Fresno StateNo. 5Titans Softball Complex6–0Ritter (10–0)Nesbitt (3–2)—23–1–
March 18vs. North CarolinaNo. 5Titans Softball Complex5–0Wilson (10–0)Cox (7–8)—24–1–
March 19vs. DePaulNo. 5Titans Softball Complex1–0Ritter (11–0)Huitnik (3–7)—25–1–
March 20vs. No. 11 TexasNo. 4Titans Softball Complex7–0Wilson (11–0)Bradford (7–1)—26–1–
March 20vs. No. 1 ArizonaNo. 5Titans Softball Complex6–2Ritter (12–0)Mowatt (7–1)1,20927–1–
March 25vs. Western KentuckyNo. 1Ulmer Stadium Louisville, KY2–0Ritter (13–0)Schwartz (3–5)27228–1–
March 25vs. Middle TennesseeNo. 1Ulmer Stadium17–1 (5)Motycka (5–1)Dorais (0–2)27229–1–
March 26at LouisvilleNo. 1Ulmer Stadium2–1Wilson (12–0)Sherman (6–7)—30–1–
March 26at LouisvilleNo. 1Ulmer Stadium7–0Ritter (14–0)Bishop (10–5)—31–1–
March 30at Bowling GreenNo. 1BGSU Softball Field Bowling Green, OH6–0Wilson (13–0)Vrabel (6–8)42732–1– :
April
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossAttendanceOverall RecordB1G Record
April 1No. 24 IowaNo. 1Alumni Field Ann Arbor, MI2–5Birocci (17–4)Wilson (13–1)1,23732–20–1
April 2No. 24 IowaNo. 1Alumni Field3–1Ritter (15–0)Birocci (17–5)48533–21–1
April 3IllinoisNo. 1Alumni Field8–7Ritter (16–0)DeVreese (3–6)—34–22–1
April 3IllinoisNo. 1Alumni Field10–0 (5)Wilson (14–1)DeVreese (3–7)78335–23–1
April 6at Central MichiganNo. 1CMU Softball Complex Mount Pleasant, MI4–5DeRoche (3–1)Wilson (14–2)—35–33–1
April 6at Central MichiganNo. 1CMU Softball Complex7–3Wilson (15–2)DeRoche (3–2)—36–33–1
April 8at WisconsinNo. 1Goodman Diamond Madison, WI3–2 (8)Wilson (16–2)Brock (9–5)—37–34–1
April 9at WisconsinNo. 1Goodman Diamond8–0 (6)Wilson (17–2)Layne (2–5)—38–35–1
April 10at MinnesotaNo. 1Jane Sage Cowles Minneapolis, MN4–0Ritter (17–0)Peyer (10–11)—39–36–1
April 10at MinnesotaNo. 1Jane Sage Cowles11–0 (5)Wilson (18–2)Peyer (10–12)35640–37–1
April 15at PurdueNo. 1Varsity SB Complex West Lafayette, IN3–0Ritter (18–0)Baker (13–10)—41–38–1
April 16at PurdueNo. 1Varsity SB Complex6–2Ritter (19–0)LaRiva (9–3)—42–39–1
April 17at IndianaNo. 1IU Softball Complex Bloomington, IN9–0 (5)Ritter (20–0)Roark (9–16)27543–310–1
April 17at IndianaNo. 1IU Softball Complex10–2 (6)Ritter (21–0)Bogado (1–7)24044–311–1
April 19Eastern MichiganNo. 1Alumni Field5–1Wilson (19–2)Woodrum (6–7)—45–311–1
April 19Eastern MichiganNo. 1Alumni Field14–2 (5)Ritter (22–0)Woodrum (6–8)74346–311–1
April 22Penn StateNo. 1Alumni Field1–2Esparza (10–3)Ritter (22–1)51546–411–2
April 23Penn StateNo. 1Alumni FieldPostponed
April 24Ohio StateNo. 1Alumni FieldPostponed
April 24Ohio StateNo. 1Alumni FieldPostponed :
May
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossAttendanceOverall RecordB1G Record
May 1Michigan StateNo. 1Alumni Field8–0 (5)Ritter (23–1)Turney (12–14)1,90347–412–2
May 1Michigan StateNo. 1Alumni Field9–1 (5)Ritter (24–1)Turney (12–15)1,90348–413–2
May 4Western MichiganNo. 1Alumni Field2–0Wilson (20–2)VanDerSlik (10–14)—49–413–2
May 4Western MichiganNo. 1Alumni Field5–0Ritter (25–1)Shumaker (4–1)50350–413–2
May 7No. 19 NorthwesternNo. 1Alumni Field3–0Ritter (26–1)Canney (18–6)1,85851–414–2
May 8No. 19 NorthwesternNo. 1Alumni Field8–7Wilson (21–2)Canney (18–7)1,65752–415–2 :
Postseason :
B1G Tournament
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossAttendanceOverall RecordB1GT Record
May 12Michigan State (8)No. 1 (1)Alumni Field6–2Ritter (27–1)Turney (14–16)1,20353–41–0
May 13Wisconsin (5)No. 1 (1)Alumni FieldPostponed
May 14Wisconsin (5)No. 1 (1)Alumni Field10–1 (5)Wilson (22–2)Brock (20–9)—54–42–0
May 14No. 22 Iowa (3)No. 1 (1)Alumni Field7–2Ritter (28–1)Arnold (20–5)1,11355–43–0 :
NCAA Regional
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossAttendanceOverall RecordRegional Record
May 20CanisiusNo. 1 (1)Alumni Field8–1Ritter (29–1)Bunten (13–11)1,83756–41–0
May 21Seton HallNo. 1 (1)Alumni Field5–0Ritter (30–1)Meyer (27–6)1,45757–42–0
May 22North CarolinaNo. 1 (1)Alumni Field6–0Ritter (31–1)Cox (22–20)1,04658–43–0 :
NCAA Super Regional
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossAttendanceOverall RecordSuper Reg. Record
May 27No. 21 Washington (16)No. 1 (1)Alumni Field4–1Ritter (32–1)Boek (20–13)2,31159–41–0
May 28No. 21 Washington (16)No. 1 (1)Alumni Field2–3Noble (15–8)Ritter (32–2)2,42659–51–1
May 28No. 21 Washington (16)No. 1 (1)Alumni Field11–2 (6)Ritter (33–2)Boek (20–14)2,42660–52–1 :
Women's College World Series
DateOpponentRankStadium SiteScoreWinLossAttendanceOverall RecordCWS Record
June 2vs. No. 23 DePaulNo. 1 (1)ASA Hall of Fame Stadium Oklahoma City, OK3–0Ritter (34–2)Adix (23–9)4,24561–51–0
June 2vs. No. 5 Texas (4)No. 1 (1)ASA Hall of Fame Stadium4–0Ritter (35–2)Osterman (29–7)4,56062–52–0
June 5vs. No. 11 Tennessee (11)No. 1 (1)ASA Hall of Fame Stadium0–2 (11)Abbott (50–8)Ritter (35–3)4,23662–62–1
June 5vs. No. 11 Tennessee (11)No. 1 (1)ASA Hall of Fame Stadium3–2Ritter (36–3)Abbott (50–9)2,43163–63–1
June 6vs. No. 12 UCLA (7)No. 1 (1)ASA Hall of Fame Stadium0–5Selden (29–12)Ritter (36–4)4,16163–73–2
June 7vs. No. 12 UCLA (7)No. 1 (1)ASA Hall of Fame Stadium5–2Ritter (37–4)Selden (29–13)4,16164–74–2
June 8vs. No. 12 UCLA (7)No. 1 (1)ASA Hall of Fame Stadium4–1 (10)Ritter (38–4)Selden (29–14)4,03265–75–2 :
Win  Loss  PostponementBold: Wolverines team memberReference: Rankings from NFCA:(#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. :

## Ranking movement

| Poll | Last | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Wk 15 | Final |
| NFCA | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1* | 1* |
| * Indicates unanimous selection. |||||||||||||||||||

## Records and accomplishments
### Team records

* Most wins in a season: 65
* Most consecutive wins: 32 (February 13, 2005 to March 30, 2005)

### Accomplishments

* First victory over a top-ranked opponent (6–2 victory over No. 1 Arizona on March 20).
* First No. 1 national ranking (March 22).
* First No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
* Samantha Findlay became the first freshman position player to be named Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player.

## Awards and honors

Weekly Awards :
| Player | Award | Date Awarded |
| Lorilyn Wilson | Big Ten Pitcher of the Week | February 22, 2005 |
| Jennie Ritter | Co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Week | March 8, 2005 |
| Lorilyn Wilson | Big Ten Pitcher of the Week | March 21, 2005 |
| Jessica Merchant | Big Ten Player of the Week | March 28, 2005 |
| Jennie Ritter | Co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Week | March 28, 2005 |
| Nicole Motycka | Co-Big Ten Player of the Week | April 4, 2005 |
| Lorilyn Wilson | Co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Week | April 11, 2005 |
| Jessica Merchant | NFCA National Player of the Week | April 13, 2005 |
| Jennie Ritter | Big Ten Pitcher of the Week | April 18, 2005 |
| Tiffany Haas | Big Ten Player of the Week | May 2, 2005 |
| Alessandra Giampaolo | Big Ten Player of the Week | May 9, 2005 |
Individual Awards :
| Player | Award | Ref. |
| Jennie Ritter | Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year USA Softball Player of the Year | [10] [28] [11] |
| Samantha Findlay | Big Ten Freshman of the Year | [10] [28] [11] |
| Carol Hutchins | Big Ten Co-Coach of the Year | [10] [28] [11] |
All-Big Ten :
| Player | Selection |
| Jennie Ritter | First Team |
| Tiffany Haas | First Team |
| Nicole Motycka | First Team |
| Grace Leutele | First Team |
| Alessandra Giampaolo | First Team |
| Samantha Findlay | Second Team |
| Jessica Merchant | Second Team |
| Stephanie Bercaw | Third Team |
All-American :
| Player | Selection |
| Jennie Ritter | First Team |
| Tiffany Haas | First Team |
| Jessica Merchant | Third Team |
| Nicole Motycka | Third Team |