The Phoenix baseball team was ranked 72nd nationally in the final NCAA Division I Rating Percentage Index (RPI) for the 2005 season with a final RPI of .5348. The RPI system is a standard formula that uses win-loss record and strength of schedule, opponents’ strength of schedule, success in road games and other criteria to provide a uniform ranking system for the 290 Division I schools that sponsor baseball.
The Phoenix, under head coach Mike Kennedy ’91, finished the 2005 season with a 32-25 record. Among Southern Conference schools, Elon ranked fourth in RPI, trailing only College of Charleston, Georgia Southern and Western Carolina. In addition, Elon’s opponents strength of schedule was tops among league schools and 54th nationally.
As a conference, the SoCon was ranked ninth out of the 31 baseball leagues in Division I. That placed the league ahead of the Big Ten (10th) and the Big East (11th). The Southeastern Conference was the top-ranked league while the Big 12, which includes 2005 College World Series champion Texas, was ranked second.