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.
Personnel
Roster
Coaches
Schedule
Ranking movement
Records and accomplishments
Individual records
Offense
- Most home runs in a season: 21
- Most hits in a season: 91
- Most runs scored in a season: 67
- Most RBI in a season: 77
- Most at bats in a season: 253
- Most home runs in a game: 3
- Most runs in a game: 4
Pitching
- Most appearances in a season: 48
- Most starts in a season: 41
- Most complete games in a season: 34
- Most innings pitched in a season: innings
- Most wins in a season: 38
- Most strikeouts in a season: 417
- Most no-hitters in a season: 3
Team records
- Most wins in a season: 65
- Most consecutive wins: 32
Accomplishments
- First victory over a top-ranked opponent.
- First No. 1 national ranking.
- 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
| Player | Award | Date Awarded | Ref. |
| 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 |
| Player | Award | Ref. |
| Jennie Ritter | Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year USA Softball Player of the Year | |
| Samantha Findlay | Big Ten Freshman of the Year | |
| Carol Hutchins | Big Ten Co-Coach of the Year |
| Player | Selection | Ref. |
| 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 |
| Player | Selection | Ref. |
| Jennie Ritter | First Team | |
| Tiffany Haas | First Team | |
| Jessica Merchant | Third Team | |
| Nicole Motycka | Third Team |