USF softball has had an eventful past few days.

From winning its first-ever American Athletic Conference title on Saturday to earning a spot in the Tallahassee regional for the NCAA tournament on Sunday, the Bulls have had a stretch to remember.

Now, they look to ride the momentum into the postseason.

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The team didn’t have long to celebrate Saturday’s 5-4 victory over North Texas.

With the win, the Bulls secured a spot in the NCAA tournament.

“We know we’re gonna be on that board,” head coach Ken Eriksen said after Saturday’s game. “Where we go? Who cares.”

Less than 24 hours later, the Bulls were part of ESPN’s selection show, where it was announced they would play Auburn in the opening game of the Tallahassee regional.

This will mark USF’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2022 and its 17th under long-time coach Eriksen.

The regional will be hosted by No. 5 FSU and also includes Robert Morris. 

USF will play Auburn in the first game on Friday at noon, while FSU faces off against Robert Morris at 2:30 p.m.

The winners of each game will go on to face each other, while the losers move into the elimination bracket. Only one team will advance to the super regionals.

South Florida has an all-time record of 3-8 against Auburn, with the last matchup being a 5-1 loss in February of 2022.

The Tigers (32-22) finished 14th in the Southeastern Conference and lost in the first round of the SEC tournament to Alabama.

“Whoever it is, man, bring it on,” Eriksen said. “I don’t care.”

Related: USF softball sweeps Tulsa, inches closer to NCAA tournament

Before receiving the spot to regionals, the Bulls’ weekend began with a comeback against North Texas at the USF Softball Stadium on Saturday.

Down by four runs early, USF chipped away at the deficit and surged ahead in the sixth inning — just after a weather delay paused the action for nearly an hour and a half.

The Bulls scored three runs in the frame, led by freshman Karhys Pierce to take a final 5-4 lead.

While the rally came from the plate, the majority of success came from the mound.

Senior pitcher Belle Sardja, who closed out Saturday’s win with three scoreless innings, was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. 

She pitched after freshman Anne Long let up two earned runs in her three innings pitched.

Eriksen praised both Sardja and Long after the game.

“Long coming in and really settling it down and giving us three innings of relief to get to Belle [Sardja]… you know you got a shot and she gave us a great shot,” Eriksen said.

Sardja said the team’s mindset set her forth to get the final out.

“When you’re playing with a team like ours, and you’re playing for each other [and] not really for yourself, it’s just a different atmosphere,” she said postgame.