March 28, 2005

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Player of the Week
Jessica Merchant, Michigan 
Sr., SS, Wayland, Mich./Wayland
Merchant led the Wolverines to a perfect 4-0 weekend at the Louisville Courtyard by Marriott Classic Championship. She hit .636 (7-for-11), tallying three home runs, eight RBI and a slugging percentage of 1.455. Merchant accounted for Michigan's only runs in a 2-0 victory over Western Kentucky with two solo home runs. In the championship game, she then posted her team-best 10th homer of the season to become Michigan's all-time leader in home runs with 35.

Co-Pitchers of the Week
Lisa Birocci, Iowa 
Sr., P, Des Moines, Iowa/Lincoln
Birocci moved into third place on the career strikeout list last weekend after posting 24 K's last weekend. She now has a total of 794 strikeouts, surpassing former Hawkeye Terri McFarland (1989-1992). Birocci threw a two-hit shutout against Ball State, while helping Iowa's cause with a two-run home run in the fifth. She then posted another shutout against North Dakota State, allowing five hits and striking out 13.

Jennie Ritter, Michigan 
Jr., P, Dexter, Mich./Dexter
Ritter led Michigan with two complete-game shutouts and a save at the Louisville Courtyard by Marriott Classic Championship last weekend. She struck out 13, while allowing only two hits and two walks in a 2-0 victory over Western Kentucky. Ritter then collected another victory, tallying nine strikeouts to finished the weekend with a 0.00 ERA. She currently leads the team with eight shutouts on the season.