Michigan Earns Program's First No. 1 National Ranking
3/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A record-setting run of 27 straight victories by the University of Michigan softball team, including eight straight over ranked teams, has gained national recognition as the Wolverines today (Tuesday, March 22) became the first non-Pacific-10 Conference team voted No. 1 in the three-year old ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate top 25. Only Arizona, UCLA and California, all of the Pac-10, had resided in the top spot of the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll since its inception in 2003.
Michigan recently completed a perfect 6-0 weekend to win the Kia Klassic championship in Fullerton, Calif., including a 6-2 championship-game victory over previously No. 1 Arizona on Sunday. The win extended Michigan's school-record winning streak to 27 games after dropping the season opener to then-No. 17 Baylor (7-6) on Feb. 11.
"I think its great for softball in this part of the country and for the Big Ten in particular," noted Michigan coach Carol Hutchins. "At the same time, the true No. 1 gets to be decided on the field and that's the opportunity we are looking forward to. I am happy for our kids because they have played good, steady softball all season and this type of recognition speaks well of our conference, especially since Northwestern beating California this weekend probably helped us get there."
Michigan recently moved into the ESPN.com/USA Softball top five for the first time on March 8 and moved up to No. 4 one week ago. The Wolverines' highest previous ranking in the poll was No. 6 heading into last season's Women's College World Series.
During the 27-game win streak, Michigan has outscored its opponents 158-20 and has tossed three no-hitters, including two from junior Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS). Other early season highlights include senior shortstop Jessica Merchant (Wayland, Mich./Wayland HS) becoming the school's all-time home run leader when she hit her 29th career bomb on March 4 vs. Chattanooga.
The Wolverines put their first-ever No. 1 ranking on the line this weekend (March 25-26) at the Courtyard by Marriott Louisville Classic. Michigan opens tournament action on Friday (March 25, 4 p.m.) vs. Western Kentucky.
ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 (3/22/05)
Rank, School Record Prev 1. MICHIGAN (13) 27-1 4 2. Arizona (7) 24-2 1 3. California 23-3 2 4. Texas 23-4 5 5. Tennessee 34-4 6 6. Stanford 19-3 3 7. Baylor 29-3 9 Texas A&M 28-2 10 9. Oklahoma 31-5 11 10. UCLA 18-6 7 11. Alabama 31-6 12 12. Georgia 25-7 13 13. Louisiana Lafayette 22-5 8 14. Florida 24-6 16 15. Oregon State 16-6 17 16. Missouri 26-2 18 17. Washington 16-9 14 18. Fresno State 18-7 21 19. Nebraska 19-8 19 Louisiana State 17-8 15 21. Iowa 23-5 23 22. Arizona State 25-7 22 23. Georgia Tech 28-7 20 24. Northwestern 15-6 25 25. Florida State 20-12 24
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
