Bethune-Cookman University Athletics

Under the guise of Bethune-Cookman Hall of Fame Head Coach Laura Watten, the 2005 edition of Wildcats Softball was not just the best in Bethune-Cookman history, but one of – if not THE – best in HBCU history. The Wildcats were a dominating 42-15 through the regular season, a record that included a school-record 23-game winning streak and a victory over the Florida Gators at Sunnyland Park in Daytona Beach. Amber Jackson, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year, led the nation in runs per game (1.13), while also ranking 12th in RBIs (77) and registered 14 home runs. The trio of pitchers – B-CU Hall of Famer Lauren McCoy, Katie Finn and Viveca Patterson, all carried ERAs of 1.56 or lower across the season. Despite falling in the MEAC Tournament final, the Cats earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Gainesville [Fla.] Regional, becoming the first HBCU – and currently still the only HBCU, to win a Division I Regional and advance to the Austin [Texas] Super Regional to face the Longhorns and future National Softball Hall of Fame member Cat Osterman. The Cats ended the season 49-19 overall, with the team being highlighted by a profile in USA Today and Dallas Morning News, respectively. The Maroon and Gold also finished the year ranked No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Today final poll, the last time any HBCU team has been ranked in a final poll in a Division I season. They were No. 18 in the final NFCA/USA Today Coaches poll.