They have only been playing for two years, but the Selma University Bulldogs baseball team has already earned a spot in the Small College World Series in Old Orchard Beach, Maine starting May 13.

The Bulldogs won five of their last six games to reach the final tournament of the year as a sixth seed out of 10.

“We are really pleased to get this chance,” Bulldogs head coach Terrance Jackson said. “The kids have played really hard this year and we have earned our spot in it. It didn’t matter that we are only in our second year, we played hard and focused on our goals.”

The late-season resurgence, Jackson said, was due to a new focus on defense.

“We had about a week off and then came back playing better defense,” Jackson said. “Before that time our defense was poor and that is probably a compliment. We came back after that break and didn’t make any errors in about three games and that helped a whole lot.”

According to Jackson, even though his team received the announcement Wednesday, there had been other things on the Bulldogs’ minds with finals.

It is that same schedule Selma players have to practice around now.

“It’s hard to read them (the players),” Jackson said. “I know these kids are excited, but they won’t really show it. Many of them have to focus on their finals anyway. I know the seniors asked me about it every day until I told them they would find out after I did. So they are excited.”

Jackson said having finals this week frees his team from the distraction next week.

“They will be able to pack and move all of their stuff back to their homes and then come back here next week before we leave. It’s not something they have to think about anymore.”