Weekly Release #1
2/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Upcoming Schedule
Fri-Sun., Feb. 11-13 -- at UNLV Desert Classic (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Feb. 11 -- vs. #14/13 Tennessee, 11:15 a.m. PST
Feb. 11 -- vs. Central Florida, 8:15 p.m. PST
Feb. 12 -- vs. #17/18 Baylor, 3 p.m. PST
Feb. 12 -- vs. UC Santa Barbara, 8 p.m. PST
Feb. 13 -- vs. #13/14 Oregon, 11 a.m. PST
Fri-Sun., Feb. 18-20 -- at Florida Atlantic Tournament (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Feb. 18 -- vs. N.C. State, 9 a.m.
Feb. 18 -- vs. Pittsburgh, 11 a.m.
Feb. 19 -- vs. Rutgers, 3 p.m.
Feb. 19 -- vs. Florida Atlantic, 7 p.m.
Feb. 20 -- Championship Rounds, tba
2004 RECORDS
Overall: 54-13 (.806)
Big Ten: 17-3 (.850)
Home: 22-3 / Away: 16-4 /Ntrl: 16-6
USA Today/NFCA Rank: No. 8 (2005 Preseason)
USA Softball/ESPN.com Rank: No. 11 (Feb. 8)
HEAD COACH
Carol Hutchins (Michigan State, 1979)
Head Coach Records --
All (21st year): 875-349-4, .709
U-M (20th year): 852-338-4, .710
Big Ten (20th year): 342-124 .729
ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH
Bonnie Tholl (Michigan, 1991)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Jennifer Brundage (UCLA, 1996)
Jennifer Teague (Indiana-Wesleyan, 1999)
2005 CO-CAPTAINS
Jessica Merchant, Nicole Motycka
First Pitch
Michigan opens the 2005 season ranked No. 8 and No. 11 in the nation, respectively, by the NFCA/USA Today and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls. Michigan dives right into one of its most difficult non-conference tournament slates in recent memory this weekend (Feb. 11-13) at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. The tournament consists of 22 teams, including eight teams ranked among the top 25 in the nation according to both preseason polls. Michigan faces three of those eight ranked teams in its five-game pool play schedule, beginning with a meeting vs. #14/13 Tennessee on Friday (Feb. 11, 11:15 a.m. PST). A game vs. Central Florida (8:15 p.m. PST) rounds out action on Friday and precedes Saturday (Feb. 12) tilts vs. #17/18 Baylor (3 p.m.) and UC Santa Barbara (8 p.m. PST). Michigan closes out its action in Las Vegas on Sunday (Feb. 13) vs. #13/14 Oregon (11 a.m. PST).
Opponents
#14/9 Tennessee (5-0): The Lady Vols are 5-0, outscoring their opponents 27-1 this season ... Tennessee ace hurler Monica Abbott is 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 47 K's in 24.0 innings of work ... Tennessee owns impressive early-season wins over DePaul (6-1) and Louisville (4-0) ... Sarah Fekete leads the way at the plate with a .588 average, including an .824 slugging and .611 on-base ... Tennessee on the Internet: www.utladyvols.com.
Series: U-M leads, 1-0 (last meeting 1996)
Central Florida (3-4): UCF owns a victory over DePaul (3-0), but dropped its only game vs. a ranked opponent (4-0) vs. Tennessee ... Stephanie Best leads the way offensively with a .421 batting average and a home run. She is slugging .684 ... hurler Linsday Enders is the reigning Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week and is 2-2 on the season with a 2.93 ERA ... Central Florida on the Internet: www.ucfathletics.com
Series: first meeting
#17/15 Baylor (6-0): Baylor enters this weekend having won its first six games, including two wins over No. 22/25 Illinois of 5-2 and 3-1 ... Baylor is led at the plate by Chelsi Lake, who is hitting .357 with a home run ... Baylor is hitting .331 as a team with 15 stolen bases ... Bear pitchers are 6-0 with a 0.72 ERA, led by Tessa Lynam (0.00 ERA) in two starts ... Baylor on the Internet: www.baylorbears.com.
Series: Series tied, 2-2 (last meeting 1999)
UCSB (4-3): The Gauchos have won four of their last five after dropping their first two to No. 2/3 UCLA by scores of 5-1 and 9-1 ... UCSB does a win over ranked opponent, beating No. 16 Oregon State 6-1 after losing to the Beavers earlier in the day 7-3 ... UCSB on the Internet: www.ucsbgauchos.com
Series: U-M leads, 1-0 (last meeting 2002)
#13/14 Oregon (3-1): Oregon opened its season last weekend winning its first three games before falling 6-0 to No. 9 Washington ... Oregon has outscored its opponents 29-4 in its three wins ... Oregon on the Internet: www.goducks.com
Series: U-M leads, 3-2 (last meeting 2003)
Wolverines Open in Vegas
For the second straight season, Michigan is opening its season in Las Vegas, Nev. A year ago the Wolverines went 3-2 at the UNLV Desert Classic, including a 2-0 win over 23rd-ranked Oregon State. The Wolverines losses were against No. 8 Nebraska (4-5) and No. 1 UCLA (3-0) despite out-hitting the Bruins seven to two. Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS) was particularly impressive for the Maize and Blue, shutting out Oregon State on one hit, tossing a complete game in a 2-1 win over host UNLV and then striking out eight Bruins while allowing just one earned run in six innings of work against the nation's top-ranked team. As is the case in 2005, Michigan faced three ranked teams in its first five games of the season at the Desert Classic.
Movin' Up
The Wolverines were ranked No. 12 by the ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason poll, but have moved up one spot to No. 11 despite not playing its first game yet. Michigan remains No. 8 in the NFCA/USA Today poll.
Watch for Merchant, Motycka
For the first time in the four years USA Softball has posted an initial 40-player watch list for its National Collegiate Player of the Year Award, two Wolverines appear on the list. Both NFCA All-Americans a year ago, senior co-captains Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) and Nicole Motycka (Sarasota, Fla./Cardinal Mooney HS) return to the diamond for their final campaigns recognized as two of the best players in the nation. Merchant, second-team All-American selection at shortstop, is coming off a record-setting junior campaign in which she hit .352 with a school-record 15 home runs and a Big Ten-leading .739 slugging percentage. Motycka, also a second-team honoree at pitcher, led Michigan with a 0.81 ERA and a 22-5 mark making her just the fourth pitcher in Michigan history with multiple 20-win seasons. Merchant and Motycka swept the Big Ten Player and Pitcher of the Year honors last season.
Near Rematch
When Michigan opens its season vs. Tennessee on Friday it will be the team's first meeting since 1996. However, the two teams were the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively, in last season's NCAA Regional 6 Championship in Ann Arbor. Tennessee was knocked out of the tournament with losses to No. 3 seed Oregon State and Illinois-Chicago while Michigan survived to win 2-of-3 tough games vs. Oregon State and make its seventh all-time appearance in the Women's College World Series.
Tough Opening Tourney
In addition to playing three ranked teams in five games over three days, the Wolverines are opening their season this weekend while each of their opponents has games under their belts. Michigan's five opponents this weekend have combined for a 21-8 mark thus far this season and each team has at least four games under its belt heading into the Desert Classic.
Pitching Staff Early Strength
One of the top pitching staffs in America in 2004, the Wolverines could be even better in 2005 with the return of their top three hurlers including both primary starters. All-American and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Nicole Motycka is back for her senior campaign while Jennie Ritter returns following a sophomore season in which she earned All-Great Lakes Region second-team honors. Returning from her undefeated freshman season, sophomore Lorilyn Wilson (Salem, Ore./Spargue HS) was possibly the most impressive Wolverine in the circle during fall workouts and is prepared to make an even greater impact in 2005. Slowed by injury for most of her freshman season, Ritter made a huge impact for the Wolverines in her sophomore season. Ritter blew foes away to strike out 269 in 207.2 innings pitched and allow just a .161 opponent batting average. In 31 games started, Ritter threw 20 complete games, eight of which were shutouts, to record a team-high 24 wins. Statistically the best pitcher this past fall, Lorilyn Wilson returns for Michigan as the final force in the lineup. In 59.1 innings pitched, Wilson gave up only two extra base hits as a freshman; both of which were home runs. Wilson capped her perfect 8-0 season with 77 Ks and a team-low .144 opponent batting average.
Infield Strong Up the Middle
Michigan boasts one of the premiere keystone combinations in the nation in 2005 returning All-Americans in shortstop Jessica Merchant and second baseman Tiffany Haas (Santa Ana, Calif./Foothill HS). This marks the first time in the history of the program that Michigan has returned a All-Americans and the two key middle infield positions. Merchant paced the Wolverine run production for much of last season and owned team highs in home runs (15), RBI (48) and slugging percentage (.739) while becoming the first Michigan shortstop to garner an All-America honor. Having started all 67 games last season, Haas returns to the Maize and Blue for her third season as the regular second baseman and leadoff hitter. Haas cemented herself as one of the elite leadoff hitters in the nation when she earned NCAA Region 6 MVP honors while leading the Wolverines to their seventh regional championship. Haas led the Maize and Blue in average (.354), hits (75), runs (50) and walks (29) and was second on the team with 18 stolen bases behind departing senior, Meghan Doe.
Power at the Corners
Michigan's corner infield positions should be manned by All-Big Ten first team third baseman Grace Leutele (Sierra Vista, Ariz./Buena HS), who was third on the team last season with six home runs, and highly recruited freshman first baseman Samantha Findlay (Lockport, Ill./East HS), who enjoyed a great fall season while hitting cleanup.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
