Consistency the calling card for former Mercy standout Donovan

There was nothing in South Florida softball coach Ken Eriksen’s itinerary that included securing a commitment from the Nutmeg State prodigy who would become one of the most consistent hitters in USF history.

However, a trip to Connecticut a few years back so he could run a clinic began a process of Guilford’s Astin Donovan making a splash on the national softball scene.

The journey will end in the coming days or perhaps weeks as Donovan’s Bulls begin play in the NCAA tournament against Ohio State on Friday at 5 p.m. in the regional headlined and hosted by the University of Florida.

USF has had 17 players play professionally since 1997 and has been a regular NCAA tournament participant in the last 22 years, but with one more hit Donovan will join Monica Triner as

the only USF players to rank in the top 10 in program history in career hits and the top five in batting average.

“I am not one of those guys who puts the moniker of expectation on anybody, but I felt like she would fit

into our system very well,” Eriksen said. “Our system is about being creative. The athlete that she is lends itself for some offensive diversity whether you can bunt, whether you can slap, whether you can hit, whether you can hit for power. She definitely fits the mode of what we are trying to do here and it actually turned

out very well for her and for us.”

Donovan’s name has been written on the lineup card as a starting outfielder 211 times over the last four seasons and she has proven to be the model of consistency.

After hitting .369 as a sophomore and junior, she currently stands at .371 as she is one of four USF players

to earn first team all American Athletic Conference honors.

“It was always my goal to be a consistent player,” Donovan said. “I just wanted to play the game like I have played it my whole life.”