Despite fielding a very young squad, the 2005 University of Mary Washington softball team had its winningest record in four seasons, racing to 17 wins in route to its second straight appearance in the Capital Athletic Conference championship game. Led by four All-CAC performers, including seniors Kelly Keenan and Erin Bundrick, UMW used a veteran base that also included juniors Erin Rantz (All-CAC shortstop), Andrea Perez, Abbey Wineland, and Meghan Witt to lead a relatively young team.
Offensively, Bundrick closed her career with a .378 average in 2005, with a team-high 37 hits and 19 RBI. Freshman right fielder Kerri Spaulding proved to be one of the top rookies in the CAC, batting .330, second on the team, and played a very strong right field for Coach Conway, with five outfield assists. Rantz continued to be a very steady player for UMW, batting .316 with a team-high eleven doubles. Senior Kelly Keenan batted .271 in the leadoff spot, with a team-high 21 runs scored. Catcher Andrea Perez batted .313 for the season, and freshman left fielder Jamie Clevenger also had an outstanding season, batting .305 while providing excellent defense in left. Rounding out the lineup were third baseman Ashley Sifer, infielder/catcher Sarah Lance, second baseman Lindsey Painter, and first baseman/DH Sarah Axelson.
On the rubber, number one duties were held by rising senior Abbey Wineland, who went 8-6 with a 2.65 ERA in 16 appearances. She was extremely effective in the CAC Tournament, allowing just one earned run in three appearances, with one win and also held Salisbury to one hit in three innings of relief in the championship game. Freshman Casey Pherson went 4-5 with a 3.96 ERA and pitched a no-hitter against Gallaudet University early in the season. Amanda Peterik and Jessica Simon also saw action on the mound, combining for three wins in three starts.
The Eagles had a hard time getting the season under way, as their first eight games were postponed due to weather, but once the games were underway, the Eagles showed signs of promise from the start. After winning their first four games, the Eagles played in the Bridgewater/Roanoke Tournament, winning a pair of games, including one over CAC foe York College. Doubleheader sweeps of Gallaudet University, Randolph-Macon College, and Chowan College (in which the Eagles won both games in dramatic fashion), UMW won a game at Division One Howard University in preparation for the CAC Tournament, which was also preceded by a twinbill sweep at Shenandoah University.
UMW dropped its second-round game to York on the Saturday of the conference tournament, but after a convincing win over Catholic University, the Eagles defeated York on Championship Sunday to advance to the title game for the second straight year, with Wineland throwing a 3-0 shutout. The Eagles fell in the title game at Salisbury, but not before Wineland came in for three innings of one-hit relief.
Heading into the 2006 season, the Eagles are excited to get back on the field, with a talented veteran group joining a solid recruiting class, which will increase the overall quality of play through competition. Head coach Dee Conway's philosophy of playing the best player regardless of experience has pushed each individual player to improve her own game, and that hard work throughout the year has led to results during the season. An increased commitment to weight training and working out during the offseason has also led to the team's success during the season. Competition for every position will continue to be the rule at UMW, and that gives newcomers the same chance as veterans to contribute immediately.