GREENSBORO, N.C- The UNCG softball team (10-9) is set to host former Southern Conference foe Appalachian State (4-15) in the Spartans first mid-week games of the season. UNCG is on a two-game win streak after ending the Spartan Classic with victories over Brown and North Carolina Central last Sunday. The game will be streamed live on the SoCon Digital Network with UNCG's Parker Southern on the call. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
UNCG and Appalachian State are tied 22-22 in the all-time series. The Spartans have won eight of the last ten games played and are 6-2 against the Mountaineers during head coach Janelle Breneman's tenure.
The Spartans are 6-4 at home this season and are 2-0 in weekday games at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
Senior Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood) leads the Spartans with a .457 batting average this season. She is second on the team in home runs (2), doubles (3), extra-base hits (7) and has reached base safely in the last five games.
Nicole Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood), is second in batting average (.429) and leads the Spartans with four home runs and five doubles. She has played and started in all 19 games this season and is on a team-best six-game hit streak. She has complied eight multi-hit games and a team-best eight multi-RBI games.
Third baseman Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Northwood) is third on the team with a .400 batting average and is slugging .540 with a .516 on base percentage. She has driven in 17 runs this season, second on the team and has reached base in 18 of the Spartans 19 games while starting the season on a 15-game streak.
In the circle for UNCG Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Ma./Mount Everett) is 4-2 with a team-best 3.29 earned run average. Freshman Stephanie Bryden (Orlando, Fla./East River) is 5-4 overall with a team-best 31 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched.
Appalachian State is paced by Natalie Orcutt and her team-best .326 batting average. Cara Parker and Jenny Dodd lead the Mountaineers with 17 hits a piece while Dodd has recorded a team-best six extra-base hits this season.
Vanessa Ciocatto is 2-7 in 14 appearances, nine starts, wit ha 4.23 ERA. She is holding opponents to a .292 batting average while striking out a team-best 25 batters in 49 and two thirds innings.
Annaleise Kennedy is 2-3 overall with a 6.85 ERA. Opponents are hitting .388 off of her in 31 and two thirds innings. She has allowed six home runs, five doubles and a team-high 31 earned runs.
The Mountaineers are 1-3 on the road this season and 3-12 in neutral site games. Appalachian State has yet to play a home game this season.
Gates open at noon for Wednesday's non-conference doubleheader.
-UNCG-
