It's a rare event for the Bridgewater softball program, but nothing new for many on this year's team.

The Eagles left Nininger Hall Wednesday morning for Salisbury, Maryland and this year's NCAA Division III Tournament. Bridgewater will face Christopher Newport at 10 a.m. Thursday in a first round game.

It's just the second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. The first came two years ago, when juniors and seniors on this year's team were freshmen and sophomores.

"We went my freshman year," junior pitcher Ashley Gills said Wednesday before boarding the team bus. "And to go to regionals two years that I've been here? It's a pretty big honor for us."

"I mean, you don't get an opportunity to do this very often," said head coach Donnie Fulk. "This is only the second time in school history. So if you can't get excited over that, then something's wrong."

The Eagles finished the season at 33-9, following back-to-back losses to Lynchburg and Eastern Mennonite on the second day of the ODAC Tournament.

They learned earlier this week that they'd gotten an at-large bid into the 59-team NCAA field.

"Monday morning, when we found out about this, I tackled my roommate," senior infielder Mallory Sandridge said. "It was an amazing feeling that we just get one more go-round."

"Right now the pressure's off," said Fulk. "The pressure is getting the bid. Once that came in, the pressure was off. We're just going to go have some fun, and play some good ball."

Bridgewater is the No. 4 seed in the seven-team Salisbury regional.

Christopher Newport, who the Eagles swept in a double-header two weeks ago, is one of three teams in the regional Bridgewater faced in the regular season.

The Eagles were swept by No. 3 seed Emory in early April, and split their double-header with ODAC champions Lynchburg, the region's top seed.

"We're pretty excited to go, and get away from here," Gills said. "I mean, we still have a lot of studying to do, because all of our finals are waiting for us when we get back. So hopefully we'll come back regional champions."