There was a sour taste in the mouths of the University of Charleston softball players Monday morning as they learned their postseason future during the NCAA regional selection show. The Golden Eagles had entered this past weekend’s Mountain East Conference tournament as its No. 1 seed, but second-seeded West Virginia Wesleyan beat UC twice Sunday for the tournament crown.
Yet that didn’t keep Charleston off its home field for this weekend’s Atlantic Regional tournament.
The Golden Eagles will host one side of the bracket as the region’s No. 2 seed, starting their tournament run at 2:30 p.m. Thursday against No. 7 seed Lock Haven. The double-elimination tournament begins at noon Thursday with a game between No. 3-seed West Chester and No. 6-seed Kutztown. The winners of the two games face each other Friday at 11 a.m., while the losers play Friday at 1:30 p.m.
West Virginia Wesleyan is the region’s No. 1 seed and hosts its end of the bracket in Buckhannon.
“It’s a great feeling,” UC coach Ray Loeser said of the tournament berth. “It’s a testament to these ladies and their mindset and their approach. The thing we’re happiest about is that people get to come see us. We have a great facility and (UC athletic director Bren) Stevens will make sure we put together a top-notch event.”
Before those two losses to the Bobcats, the Golden Eagles (45-9) were riding a 25-game winning streak, the longest of any team in UC athletic program history. They also entered this past weekend ranked 23rd in Division II by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the highest Charleston has ever been ranked as a Division II program.
This will be the first back-to-back trips to a national tournament for UC since the 1983 and 1984 seasons. There is plenty to be happy about, but the Golden Eagles still feel a sting from not capturing that MEC tournament title. That will offer plenty of motivation for this weekend, Loeser said.
“I think getting to that moment and having that moment taken had them on edge to get right back on the field,” he said. “They want to get right back at it, to be there and do the things that will help them be successful.”