CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte 49ers softball team is rolling into the NCAA Tournament, winners of 16 consecutive games.
That's the second-best active winning streak in the country this year.
The Niners will play Liberty on Friday at 3 p.m. in the Athens Regional, hosted by Georgia.
Last year, in the program's first-ever NCAA appearance, the team made it all the way to the regional final before losing to host Duke.
Charlotte has a knack for beating big-name teams, scoring victories over South Carolina, Georgia, Arizona State, Louisville, Virginia Tech, Florida State, Texas Tech, Kentucky and NC State across the last two seasons.
"I don't think it fazes us. We have the belief we can compete with anyone and anybody," infielder Ella Chance said. "When we're playing these top-ranked teams it doesn't really faze us because we know we're just as prepared as they are and just as ready to step on the field."
In 2023 the 49ers won 35 games, including in the NCAA Tournament. This time around they enter the tournament with 38 victories after capturing the AAC regular-season and tournament championships in their first season in the league.
"I think this is the best team we've ever had," coach Ashley Chastain said. "I felt like that last year with the 2023 team and everything that they did, knocking the doors down. This team has had its sites set on the final game at regionals on Sunday since that's where last year ended. And I think they think they can get to a Super Regional. That's where they're minds are at that's how we're going to approach the regional in Athens."
Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.