TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (February 7, 2019) - One of the best parts of the student-athlete experience is having the opportunity to see different parts of the country and compete in those places. The other part is getting to play some of the nation's best competition.

The No. 14 Salt Lake Community College softball program can check both of those boxes this weekend as the Bruins travel to the southeastern United States for five games in two days. SLCC will play nationally-ranked Chipola College in a doubleheader Thursday, finishing the weekend off with three games on Saturday.

SLCC coach Cyndee Bennett said the games will be critical measuring sticks for the Bruins.

"We are excited to play some high caliber teams in Florida," she said. "It's going to be fun to see how we take on this challenge."

Salt Lake enters the important stretch of preseason games on quite a run of their own, thanks to a 5-0 record in a season-opening tournament hosted by the College of Southern Nevada. The Bruins scored double-digit runs in three games, defeating No. 9 Eastern Arizona in the process in a 4-3 pitchers' duel.

This weekend, SLCC will face off against No. 2 Chipola College in a doubleheader on Thursday, along with games against No. 3 Florida Southwestern, No. 6 Central Florida and Pensacola Community College. With all of those teams figuring to be playing in the NJCAA tourney in St. George this spring, the importance of gaining an early advantage isn't lost on the Bruins.

Salt Lake's games against Chipola College will start at 3:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, with Friday's game against Florida Southwestern starting at 9:00 a.m. EST. The Bruins will open Scenic West Athletic Conference play on Friday, March 1, against the College of Southern Idaho.