2005

Emory University finished with a 32-6 record, marking its fifth year in a row with at least 30 wins. The Eagles were ranked 10th in the final national regular-season poll by the coaches' association, but were not among the 43 teams selected for the NCAA national championship tournament.

The Eagles began the season unranked, but climbed the National Fastpitch Coaches Association national polls from "others" receiving votes to 17th, 11th and then 10th in the final regular season poll. In the final poll, conducted after the NCAA tournament, Emory was listed among "others" receiving votes for the national top 25. This ends Emory's streak of four consecutive years finishing in the top 25 in the final national poll.

Emory led the nation in team fielding percentage (.978) in the final Division III national statistical report compiled by the NCAA. The Eagles were fifth in team winning percentage (.842), 10th in team earned run average (0.99), 11th in team batting average (.339), and 36th in team slugging percentage (.452).
Several Emory players were among the national individual statistical leaders. Freshman Ali Braverman finished third in the nation as the toughest hitter to strikeout. Braverman also was 33rd in the nation for highest batting average (.457).

Senior Jennifer Harrigan was 13th in the nation for most RBIs (46). Freshman pitcher Kathy Gordon ranked 19th nationally among pitchers with a 0.76 earned run average.

Emory finished second in the University Athletic Association tournament, dropping two games to Washington University (Mo.), subsequently ranked No. 1 in the nation. Of Emory's six losses on the season, four were by one run.

Graduating seniors were Allison Bouknight, Lindsey Fay, Jennifer Harrigan, Mary Nicol, Christine O'Brien and Tracey Summa, who in four years with Emory helped compile an .815 (150-34) winning percentage with two NCAA regional championships and two trips to the Division III World Series.

Following are some individual honors from this season:

Allison Bouknight
The senior co-captain was named to the all-conference first team for the third time in her career. In the conference tournament, she batted .478. Bouknight finishes her career fifth in school history in batting average (.395) and first in steals. On the season, Bouknight batted .371, second best on the team. She had 12 multi-hit games, including a 2-for-4 day against Washington University (Mo.), subsequently the No.1 team in the nation. Her 15 sacrifices on the year placed her 24th in the nation in NCAA Division III. In 192 chances in the field, she did not make an error, helping Emory to the best team fielding percentage in NCAA Division III as of May 8. In her career, she helped lead Emory to two conference championships, two NCAA regional championships and two NCAA World Series appearances.

Ali Braverman
Braverman was named Rookie of the Year in the University Athletic Association, the fourth time in five years an Emory player has won that honor. The freshman earned all-conference first-team honors after leading the conference tournament in runs scored. Braverman was third in the nation as the toughest player to strike out with one strikeout in 92 at bats. She finished the season batting .457, fifth-best in Emory history and 33rd nationally in NCAA Division III. The second baseman also led the team with a .528 on-base percentage and was second with a .630 slugging percentage. In 30 games this season, she had 13 multi-hit games, including a 3-for-3 game with three runs, one RBI, and a home run against the University of Rochester (N.Y.) in the conference tournament. Braverman was named the conference Athlete of the Week April 4.

Betsy Bruinsma
Bruinsma batted .357 this season, improving on her .349 batting average in 2004. Bruinsma had 10 multi-hit games, including five consecutive games with at least two hits March 25-March 30. She was named the conference Athlete of the Week March 28 after batting .667 in four games during a road trip to California. The outfielder cleanly handled all 37 chances in the field, contributing to Emory's No.1 ranking in fielding percentage in the nation for NCAA Division III.

Lauren Eaves
Eaves played in 32 games, the most by a freshman this season, as the team's starting first baseman and No. 3 pitcher. She was second on the team with 183 putouts and recorded a .985 fielding percentage. On the mound, she posted a 3-2 won-loss record and a 1.44 earned run average. The freshman began her college pitching career by tossing 20.2 consecutive innings without allowing a run. At the plate, she went 3-for-3 in a game against Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) during the conference tournament.

Kathy Gordon
Gordon, a freshman pitcher, ranked 19th in the nation in NCAA Division III for lowest earned run average. Her 0.76 ERA broke the school record as did the .164 batting average recorded by the opposing batters she faced. She compiled a 15-4 record, including 15 complete games, seven shutouts and 83 strikeouts. Gordon hurled three no-hitters, including one perfect game (John Carroll March 30). She was the only Emory player to be honored as the conference Athlete of the Week three times this season.

Jennifer Harrigan
The designated player's 46 RBI ranked 13th in the nation for NCAA Division III and her eight home runs placed her 37th in the nation. For the season, Harrigan was first on the team in hits, doubles, home runs, RBIs, total bases and slugging percentage. Her eight home runs set a school record. Harrigan was named to the all-conference first team for the first time. The senior led the conference with 12 hits and 13 RBIs in eight tournament games. In a game against Wesleyan College (Ga.), the senior went 3-for-3 with two runs, four RBI, a double and a home run. She was named the conference Athlete of the Week Feb. 28 after driving in nine runs in four games.

Sarah Morse
Morse, a sophomore, was named to the all-conference first team for the first time. The third baseman batted .400 with a .650 slugging percentage in eight conference games, including a home run March 11 against Case Western Reserve University (Ohio). For the season Morse was in the top four on the team in most offensive categories, including batting average, on base percentage, runs, RBI, home runs and total bases. Morse started all 38 games, had 13 multi-hit games, and made only three errors in the field for a .968 fielding percentage. She was first in the nation for most hit by pitches (13) as a batter.

Mary Nicol
The senior outfielder earned a spot on the all-conference team for the third straight season, receiving second-team honors. In the conference tournament, the co-captain batted .391 with a .652 slugging percentage. She ends her Emory career in the top 10 in school history in several offensive career categories, including batting average, slugging percentage, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI and total bases. For the season, Nicol was second on the team in doubles, third in RBI, and fourth in slugging percentage. In her career she helped lead Emory to two conference championships, two NCAA regional championships, and two NCAA World Series appearances.

Christine O'Brien
The co-captain compiled a 6-0 record and a 1.26 earned run average in a season in which she fought through arm trouble. The senior recorded three shutouts, including one in the last start of her collegiate career, a 4-0 victory against Maryville College (Tenn.). The senior was chosen as the conference Athlete of the Week following that performance. O'Brien graduated as the school's all-time leader in career ERA (0.90) and strikeouts (340). In her career, she helped Emory to two conference championships, two NCAA regional championships and two NCAA World Series appearances.

Emily Sunshine
Sunshine earned all-conference first-team honors this year after making the second team in 2004. She finished fifth on the team with a career-high .357 batting average, nearly 100 points higher than her previous best. Sunshine was 20th in the nation in NCAA Division III for most sacrifice bunts (17) and 40th for toughest to strike out (three strikeouts in 112 at bats). Sunshine was first on the team in runs scored, fourth in on base percentage, and fourth in hits. She had a 16-game hitting streak from Feb. 19-March 14. In the conference championship tournament, Sunshine batted .440 with a conference-leading 11 runs scored. She was a perfect 12-for-12 in stolen bases this season. For her career, Sunshine is 31-for-34 in steal attempts, three shy of the school record for most career steals. As an outfielder, Sunshine extended her flawless career fielding streak to 74 chances this season before being charged with the first error of her career.

Ashley Tobar
Tobar compiled an 8-0 record and 1.11 earned run average in her freshman season. Her 8.11 strikeouts per seven innings pitched this season is the best ratio in school history. She hurled five shutouts on the season, fanning 73 batters in 63 innings. She struck out 12 batters in five innings in her collegiate debut, Feb. 22 against Agnes Scott College (Ga.). Tobar tossed a one-hitter, while striking out 11 batters and allowing no walks April 8 against Wesleyan College (Ga.). She was named the conference Athlete of the Week March 7 after striking out 18 batters in two games and earning two wins.

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Written by Brandon Jones and Ben Volin, Emory Sports Information Assistants