For the first time ever, the USF Softball team is on their way to the NCAA Women's College World Series.
Head Coach Ken Eriksen said his team was actually looking forward to the long trip to Oklahoma City, as it's the first chance many of the them have had to rest since winning a nail-biting, three-game series over Hofstra this past weekend to make the tournament.
“I can’t really wait to get on the bus, cause the madness stops once you get on the bus and we can really just focus on one thing and that’s playing ball," Eriksen said.
About thirty USF faculty and staff members saw the Bulls’ softball team off Tuesday afternoon. As bags were being loaded for the bus ride to the airport and the charter flight west, Eriksen couldn’t wait to hit the road.
"As far as I’m concerned, it’s about a two minute ride, we’ll be there before we know it. We’re just gonna have fun, I’ll bet you there’ll be a lot of people sleeping, so the energy level’s been way up."
The Bulls are newcomers to the College World Series—all seven of the other teams in this year’s field have appeared there before. But Eriksen, a 1984 graduate of USF, says his players are ready to represent their school.
“I don’t think there could be any team more proud of the fact that they’re taking the U with them, and they’re going national with it, so it’s a big situation.”
The Bulls’ first game in the double elimination tournament is against the Oklahoma Sooners Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. (TV: ESPN2)
For more information about the Bulls and the Series, click here.
