The UVA Softball team got an NCAA Tournament bid for the second straight year, with the #2 seed in the Columbia Regional, hosted by #8 national seed South Carolina beginning on Friday.
Virginia (37-17) will face North Florida (45-13), the ASUN champ, on Friday at 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
“It is an honor to be playing at this point of the season. Only 20 percent of NCAA Softball teams get to play at this point in the year, and we’re one of them. That’s something we take seriously and are grateful for. This team has played hard and earned this. It’s really cool to have another historic season under our belts,” coach Joanna Hardin said.
The Cavaliers were one of nine ACC teams to get NCAA Tournament bids this season, showing the depth of the league – with Florida State (5), Clemson (11) and Duke (14) among the 16 that will host on regional weekend.
The SEC, ahem, had nine of the Top 16, including seven of the Top 8.
Damn ESPN TV contract.
North Florida, to its credit, scheduled hard, with a game against FSU, two with Florida, the #2 national seed, and Arkansas, the #13 national seed.
Three of the four were run-rule losses, but, whatever.
“North Florida won their regular season and conference tournament. They’re going to be really tough,” Hardin said. “They’ve got a great arm in Allison Benning, and she’s also hit, like, 19 home runs. It’s their first NCAA Tournament, and they’re going to be ready and hungry. We’re going to have to match that energy and competitiveness. It’s going to be a dogfight, but that’s postseason softball.”
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Chris Graham
