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 2005 Michigan Wolverines roster Pitchers 1 Lorilyn Wilson – Sophomore 15 Jennie Ritter – Junior
Outfielders 8 Stepanie Bercaw – Junior 10 Michelle Teschler – Senior 17 Alessandra Giampaolo – Freshman 21 Rebekah Milian – Sophomore
Utility 4 Lauren Talbot – Freshman 20 Nicole Motycka – Senior 32 Angie Danis – Freshman Catchers 2 Jennifer Kreinbrink – Senior 7 Tiffany Worthy – Sophomore 14 Lauren Holland – Senior 25 Becky Marx – Junior
Infielders 11 Stephanie Winter – Sophomore 12 Grace Leutele – Junior 16 Samantha Findlay – Freshman 22 Tiffany Haas – Junior 23 Michelle Weatherdon – Freshman 24 Jessica Merchant – Senior Reference:
Coaches 2005 Michigan Wolverines coaching staff Carol Hutchins – Head coach – 21st year Bonnie Tholl – Associate head coach – 3rd year Jennifer Brundage – Assistant coach and pitching coach – 8th year Jennifer Teague – Volunteer assistant coach – 1st year Reference:
Schedule
! style="" | Regular season |- valign="top"
|- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | February 11 || vs. Tennessee || || Stephanie L.C. ParkLas Vegas, NV || colspan=7| Postponed |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | February 11 || vs. UCF || || Stephanie L.C. Park || colspan=7| Postponed |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | February 12 || vs. Baylor || No. 8 || Stephanie L.C. Park || 6–7 || Ferguson (4–0) || Motycka (0–1) || 417 || 0–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 12 || vs. UC Santa Barbara || No. 8 || Stephanie L.C. Park || 7–2 || Ritter (1–0) || Sommer (0–1) || — || 1–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 13 || vs. Utah || No. 8 || Stephanie L.C. Park || 7–1 || Motycka (1–1) || Nielsen (3–1) || 87 || 2–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 13 || vs. Oregon || No. 8 || Stephanie L.C. Park || 9–0 (5) || Ritter (2–0) || Cook (2–1) || — || 3–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 18 || vs. North Carolina State || No. 8 || FAU FieldBoca Raton, FL || 3–0 || Wilson (1–0) || Sims (4–1) || — || 4–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 18 || vs. Pittsburgh || No. 8 || FAU Field || 3–0 || Ritter (3–0) || Belardinelli (0–1) || — || 5–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 19 || vs. Rutgers || No. 8 || FAU Field || 8–0 (5) || Motycka (2–1) || Crosby (0–2) || 120 || 6–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 19 || vs. Florida Atlantic || No. 8 || FAU Field || 12–3 (6) || Ritter (4–0) || Freel (3–3) || 128 || 7–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 20 || vs. Florida Atlantic || No. 8 || FAU Field || 9–1 (5) || Wilson (3–0) || Freel (3–4) || 119 || 8–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 25 || vs. South Carolina || No. 8 || South CommonsColumbus, GA || 9–3 || Motycka (3–1) || Pouliot (0–2) || — || 9–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 25 || vs. No. 13 Georgia Tech || No. 8 || South Commons || 4–1 || Ritter (5–0) || Sallinger (8–1) || — || 10–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 26 || vs. Southern Illinois || No. 8 || South Commons || 3–0 || Wilson (3–0) || Harre (1–4) || — || 11–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | February 26 || vs. Creighton || No. 8 || South Commons || 7–0 || Motycka (4–1) || Nielsen (4–2) || — || 12–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | February 27 || vs. No. 21 Florida State || No. 8 || South Commons || colspan=7| Postponed |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | February 27 || Championship Game || No. 8 || South Commons || colspan=7| Postponed
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 1 || at No. 15 Florida || No. 8 || Florida Softball StadiumGainesville, FL || 4–0 || Ritter (6–0) || Stevens (5–4) || — || 13–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 1 || at No. 15 Florida || No. 8 || Florida Softball Stadium || 4–1 || Wilson (4–0) || Knowles (3–1) || — || 14–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 2 || at UCF || No. 8 || UCF Softball ComplexOrlando, FL || 4–1 || Ritter (7–0) || Enders (6–6) || 58 || 15–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 2 || at UCF || No. 8 || UCF Softball Complex || 7–0 || Wilson (5–0) || McIntyre (6–1) || 78 || 16–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 4 || vs. Tennessee Chattanooga || No. 7 || USF Softball FieldTampa, FL || 2–1 (8) || Wilson (6–0) || Swarthout (5–5) || — || 17–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 4 || at South Florida || No. 7 || USF Softball Field || 9–0 (5) || Ritter (8–0) || Urbanik (5–4) || — || 18–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 5 || vs. Temple || No. 7 || USF Softball Field || 4–0 || Wilson (7–0) || Nacianceno (0–1) || — || 19–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 5 || vs. No. 16 Florida || No. 7 || USF Softball Field || 6–2 || Ritter (9–0) || Stevens (6–4) || — || 20–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 6 || vs. Pittsburgh || No. 7 || USF Softball Field || 9–0 (5) || Wilson (8–0) || Belardinelli (2–5) || — || 21–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 17 || at Cal State Fullerton || No. 5 || Titans Softball ComplexFullerton, CA || 3–2 || Wilson (9–0) || Weekley (1–1) || — || 22–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 17 || vs. No. 24 Fresno State || No. 5 || Titans Softball Complex || 6–0 || Ritter (10–0) || Nesbitt (3–2) || — || 23–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 18 || vs. North Carolina || No. 5 || Titans Softball Complex || 5–0 || Wilson (10–0) || Cox (7–8) || — || 24–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 19 || vs. DePaul || No. 5 || Titans Softball Complex || 1–0 || Ritter (11–0) || Huitnik (3–7) || — || 25–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 20 || vs. No. 11 Texas || No. 4 || Titans Softball Complex || 7–0 || Wilson (11–0) || Bradford (7–1) || — || 26–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 20 || vs. No. 1 Arizona || No. 5 || Titans Softball Complex || 6–2 || Ritter (12–0) || Mowatt (7–1) || 1,209 || 27–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 25 || vs. Western Kentucky || No. 1 || Ulmer StadiumLouisville, KY || 2–0 || Ritter (13–0) || Schwartz (3–5) || 272 || 28–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 25 || vs. Middle Tennessee || No. 1 || Ulmer Stadium || 17–1 (5) || Motycka (5–1) || Dorais (0–2) || 272 || 29–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 26 || at Louisville || No. 1 || Ulmer Stadium || 2–1 || Wilson (12–0) || Sherman (6–7) || — || 30–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 26 || at Louisville || No. 1 || Ulmer Stadium || 7–0 || Ritter (14–0) || Bishop (10–5) || — || 31–1 || – |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | March 30 || at Bowling Green || No. 1 || BGSU Softball FieldBowling Green, OH || 6–0 || Wilson (13–0) || Vrabel (6–8) || 427 || 32–1 || –
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | April 1 || No. 24 Iowa || No. 1 || Alumni FieldAnn Arbor, MI || 2–5 || Birocci (17–4) || Wilson (13–1) || 1,237 || 32–2 || 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 2 || No. 24 Iowa || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 3–1 || Ritter (15–0) || Birocci (17–5) || 485 || 33–2 || 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 3 || Illinois || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 8–7 || Ritter (16–0) || DeVreese (3–6) || — || 34–2 || 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 3 || |Illinois || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 10–0 (5) || Wilson (14–1) || DeVreese (3–7) || 783 || 35–2 || 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | April 6 || at Central Michigan || No. 1 || CMU Softball ComplexMount Pleasant, MI || 4–5 || DeRoche (3–1) || Wilson (14–2) || — || 35–3 || 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 6 || at Central Michigan || No. 1 || CMU Softball Complex || 7–3 || Wilson (15–2) || DeRoche (3–2) || — || 36–3 || 3–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 8 || at Wisconsin || No. 1 || Goodman DiamondMadison, WI || 3–2 (8) || Wilson (16–2) || Brock (9–5) || — || 37–3 || 4–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 9 || at Wisconsin || No. 1 || Goodman Diamond || 8–0 (6) || Wilson (17–2) || Layne (2–5) || — || 38–3 || 5–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 10 || at Minnesota || No. 1 || Jane Sage CowlesMinneapolis, MN || 4–0 || Ritter (17–0) || Peyer (10–11) || — || 39–3 || 6–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 10 || at Minnesota || No. 1 || Jane Sage Cowles || 11–0 (5) || Wilson (18–2) || Peyer (10–12) || 356 || 40–3 || 7–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 15 || at Purdue || No. 1 || Varsity SB ComplexWest Lafayette, IN || 3–0 || Ritter (18–0) || Baker (13–10) || — || 41–3 || 8–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 16 || at Purdue || No. 1 || Varsity SB Complex || 6–2 || Ritter (19–0) || LaRiva (9–3) || — || 42–3 || 9–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 17 || at Indiana || No. 1 || IU Softball ComplexBloomington, IN || 9–0 (5) || Ritter (20–0) || Roark (9–16) || 275 || 43–3 || 10–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 17 || at Indiana || No. 1 || IU Softball Complex || 10–2 (6) || Ritter (21–0) || Bogado (1–7) || 240 || 44–3 || 11–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 19 || Eastern Michigan || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 5–1 || Wilson (19–2) || Woodrum (6–7) || — || 45–3 || 11–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | April 19 || Eastern Michigan || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 14–2 (5) || Ritter (22–0) || Woodrum (6–8) || 743 || 46–3 || 11–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffdddd" | April 22 || Penn State || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 1–2 || Esparza (10–3) || Ritter (22–1) || 515 || 46–4 || 11–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | April 23 || Penn State || No. 1 || Alumni Field || colspan=7| Postponed |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | April 24 || Ohio State || No. 1 || Alumni Field || colspan=7| Postponed |- align="center" bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | April 24 || Ohio State || No. 1 || Alumni Field || colspan=7| Postponed
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | May 1 || Michigan State || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 8–0 (5) || Ritter (23–1) || Turney (12–14) || 1,903 || 47–4 || 12–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | May 1 || Michigan State || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 9–1 (5) || Ritter (24–1) || Turney (12–15) || 1,903 || 48–4 || 13–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | May 4 || Western Michigan || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 2–0 || Wilson (20–2) || VanDerSlik (10–14) || — || 49–4 || 13–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | May 4 || Western Michigan || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 5–0 || Ritter (25–1) || Shumaker (4–1) || 503 || 50–4 || 13–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ddffdd" | May 7 || No. 19 Northwestern || No. 1 || Alumni Field || 3–0 || Ritter (26–1) || Canney (18–6) || 1,858 || 51–4 || 14–2