June 26, 2012

Puerto Rico vs. USA, 7 PM, ESPN 2

Watch as junior Nicole Springer and Puerto Rico's women's national team take on the United States tonight at 7 p.m.

Nicole Springer batting fourth in first game with Puerto Rico's women's national softball team.

6/26/12

Nicole Springer will cap a successful junior season with the Blue Devil softball program by competing with Puerto Rico's women's national team this summer. Springer and her Central teammates posted a school record 31 wins during the 2012 season.

Puerto Rico's women's national team will take the field for their first tournament this week in Oklahoma City, the World Cup of Softball, which will run from June 28 to July 2. On July 3, the team will travel to Vancouver for the Canadian Cup, which goes through July 11. The team will wrap this summer's schedule at the Women's World Championships July 12-22.

"I am beyond honored and blessed to be given a chance to represent my country in the sport that love," Springer said. "I'm ready to go out and play against the best players in the world and compete for a title we all have dreamed about since we were little girls."

Springer earned second team All-Northeast Conference honors during her first season at Central. She matched school records with 10 home runs and 49 runs batted in on the year. She was one of the conference's most powerful hitters during her first season in the NEC.

"This is a tremendous honor for Nicole to get to play for her country. I'm sure Nicole will represent Puerto Rico very well," head softball coach Jeff Franquet said. "I am so happy for her to have this incredible opportunity and it is a huge honor for our program as well."

Franquet added, "It will be fun to follow Nicole this summer as she gets the chance to face the best pitchers and teams in the world."

Puerto Rico's second game of the World Cup, against Team U.S.A., will be broadcast live on ESPN 2 and ESPN3.com, Thursday night at 7:00 p.m.

"I am looking forward to the travel and being on my own because I have never been away from home by myself," added Springer.

Check CCSUBlueDevils.com for updates on Springer's performance this summer.

A complete game schedule for the World Cup can be found here.

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July 3, 2012