SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG softball's Makenna Matthijs (Greenville, N.C./D.H. Conley) was named Southern Conference Player of the Week, the leagued announced Monday afternoon. Matthijs played an important role in the Spartans' 4-1 record in the Eastern Michigan Madeira Beach Spring Invitational this past weekend with two game-winning hits.

Matthijs led UNCG in almost every offensive statistical category in the tournament, including six hits, five RBIs and a .429 batting average. Tied 2-2 in the seventh inning against Lipscomb, she hit a grand slam, her first collegiate home run, for the game-winning run. Against UMKC she hit a walk-off double to lead the Spartans to a 3-2 victory. She opened the weekend by going 2-3 in a 5-2 win over Massachusetts and had two walks and two sac bunts against Ohio in the following game. Also she went 2-4 with a run in the 3-2 victory over Virginia.

Matthijs has three game-winning hits just two weeks into the season. She also leads the SoCon in RBIs (nine) and ranks second in hits (11), doubles (three) and total bases (17).

The Spartans have earned both league player of the week awards to start the season. Marisa Sholtes (Albany, N.Y./South Colonie Central) garnered the honor last week.

The Spartans will make their home debut this weekend with the UNCG Invitational. Welcoming Seton Hall, Appalachian State and Virginia, UNCG will take on Seton Hall first on Friday in the second game of the day at 2:30 p.m.

-- UNCG –