Tri-State University’s Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) champion women’s softball team had no reason for the blues after a win over Hope College on May 2 made them the first TSU team in history to advance to NCAA regional competition.

They got them anyway.

TSU President Earl Brooks II joined administrators, faculty, staff and students for a big blue sendoff in Hershey Hall Wednesday morning before the team boarded the bus for the regional in Rock Island, Ill. on Thursday, May 8.

The TSU family donned blue fright wigs, blinking blue-light glasses, blue-and-white-painted faces and other TSU regalia to form a tunnel of support for the players to pass through on the way to the bus on the east side of Hershey. Cowbells clanged, blue and white hand-clappers clattered and blue balloons lifted into the air over campus as team members, some teary-eyed, gathered for a team high-five before boarding the bus.

While TSU’s softball team also captured the conference title last year, TSU had not yet reached the full NCAA member status required to advance in NCAA tournaments. With that requirement in their pocket last fall, the team lived up to last year’s promise by finishing this season with a 31-6 record and another conference title.

A TSU fan contingent leaves Thursday at 6 a.m. to watch TSU compete at Augustana College. TSU has received the fourth seed in the regional. DePauw is the top seed, finishing the regular season with a record of 37-2 and ranking as the top team in the nation, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Wartburg is the second seed with an overall record of 29-6. Wisconsin-Whitewater (30-8) captured the third seed, while Washington University in St. Louis (24-13) and Coe (31-14) follow with the fifth and sixth seeds. MIAA foe Alma (25-11) received an at-large bid and is seeded seventh. Maryville is the final regional team and finished the regular season at 27-15.

Tournament action can be heard on Tri-State University’s radio station, WEAX FM-88.3. The regional competition will run Thursday through Monday, May 12.