ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – Following her senior season, Linnea Goodman competed with the Sweden National Team at the 2017 Softball European Championships in Bollate, Italy, on June 25-July 1. She aided Sweden to an eighth-place finish and paced the squad in numerous categories during the nine-game event.
"It is really cool to play for Sweden, because I am not only representing the county, but also the sport," Goodman said. "When we do well in tournaments, it promotes the sport more and creates interest in softball around the country."
Goodman posted a team-best .619 batting average, while driving in 16 runs on six triples and two home runs. She paced the tournament in RBI (16), total bases (32) and triples (6), while compiling the eighth-highest batting average (.619).
"I was batting third in the order and the two players at the top were always on base and set me up in a good position," Goodman said. "I was able to produce runs, get hits and was seeing the ball really well."
The Long Beach, Calif., native delivered a walk-off two-run double against Poland on June 17 to help Sweden secure a spot in the top eight of the event. She went 3-for-3 in the contest with two triples and a double.
"My first-ever walk-off was really an amazing feeling, because I was doing it so that we could be in the top eight," added Goodman. "It was amazing to be celebrated by my teammates and be motivated by them."
Throughout the five-day tournament, Goodman tallied four multi-hit and five multi-RBI contests for Sweden.
Goodman is planning on pursuing her master's degree in social sciences at Uppsala University in Sweden, starting in September.
