The Winthrop softball team capped its most successful season ever by playing in the NCAA Regional finals on May 20 against the overall fifth-seeded Tennessee Volunteers. The Lady Eagles (50-18) made their first ever regional appearance and finished with two wins in the tournament.

Head coach Mark Cooke said the Lady Eagles (50-18) felt great about beating Furman 11-1 and the University of North Carolina 6-3 to get into the regional championship game where they lost 7-0 to Tennessee. In playing the Lady Vols, the team encountered Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year Monica Abbott.

“We did about as good as possible today against the best pitcher in the nation,” said Cooke. “Just having the opportunity to come play in a regional was a tremendous honor.”

Cooke gained his 500th win this season after leading the program for 18 years. His Lady Eagles teams have averaged 39.8 victories over the past four seasons.

Winthrop finished the NCAA Regional with a 2-2 record, also losing to a tough UNC squad in their first game, 4-3. Cooke was proud of his team’s pitching and hitting as the Lady Eagles pounded out 11 runs in 10 hits in the victory over Furman, as well as six runs against the Tar Heels.

Winthrop received an automatic berth to the NCAA Regional by capturing the Big South Conference title May 12 when the Lady Eagles defeated Radford 9-3.

Cari Wooldridge, a freshman pitcher from Bedford, Va., earned Most Valuable Player honors for the Big South Tournament.

The future is bright for the Winthrop softball program as the team loses only four seniors, will return the entire pitching staff and will have five All-Big South selections returning to the starting line-up next season.