GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG softball team (34-24, 9-9 SoCon) wrapped up the regular season with a 3-2 loss at Samford Sunday afternoon. The Spartans await the Southern Conference Tournament seeding with one regular season game still to be played. This season UNCG finished the regular season with 34 wins, nine more than the year before and the most since head coach Janelle Breneman's first season at UNCG in 2013 when the Spartans went 38-19 and 12-10 in the league. UNCG's 9-9 slate in the SoCon this year marks the third time the Spartans finished at .500 or above during Breneman's tenure.

UNCG jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after a lead off double by Lindsay Thomas (Irvine, Calif./Northwood). Allison Geiner (Raleigh, N.C./Middle Creek) hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Thomas to third and Danielle Vega (Rialto, Calif./Aquinas) hit a single just past third base to drive in the Spartans first run.

A five run third inning by Samford in the fifth gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the game but the Spartans wouldn't go down without a fight.

Stephanie Bryden (Orlando, Fla./East River) hit a one-out single in the top of the seventh inning. Lacey Leary (Northwood, N.C./Spartanburg Methodist) drew a pinch-hit walk to put runners on first and second for the Spartans. L. Thomas took 1-2 pitch for a ride but it was caught at the warning track in centerfield. Bryden tagged up putting runners on the corners for UNCG. Geiner hit a infield single to second base, scoring Bryden easily and advancing the tying run to second base. Samford was able to halt UNCG's rally as Vega hit one down the third base line and the Bulldog's third baseman stepped on the bag to get the lead runner for the final out of the game.

Bryden went 2-for-3 with one run scored in the loss while L. Thomas, Geiner, Vega, Tory Wright (Potomac Falls, Va./Dominion) and Rachael McClaskey (Pine Hill, N.J./Overbrook) all recorded hits. Vega and Wright both finish the regular season on six-game hit streaks while L. Thomas leads the team with 22 multi-hit games.

Alicia Bazonski (Sheffield, Mass./Mount Everett) was handed the loss allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out three batters in the complete game. The sophomore hurler finishes the regular season with an 18-8 record in 38 appearances with a 3.01 earned run average.

The Spartans set program records in multiple categories at UNCG including home wins with a 23-9 record at the UNCG Softball Stadium. The Spartans will host the Southern Conference Tournament May 11-14, for the third time in the last four years.

For more information on the Southern Conference Tournament, log on to www.UNCGSpartans.com.

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