GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Riding an eight-game winning streak and fresh off a record-setting display of home run power, the UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team returns home for a weekend series against the College of Charleston.
 
The Spartans (8-4) will host the Cougars (2-10) at 4 p.m. Friday at UNCG Softball Stadium, followed by a doubleheader at noon Saturday against the Colonial Athletic Association team.
 
UNCG, the preseason favorite in the Southern Conference, comes in off an impressive 13-3 victory Wednesday at Elon, another CAA opponent.
 
Jordan Gontram and Makenna Matthijs hit two home runs apiece in that game, and the Spartans tied an NCAA record with five home runs in one inning to pull away from Elon. Gontram homered twice in the seventh inning, while Matthijs, Katie Stettler and Samantha Lagrama all hit balls over the fence at Hunt Softball Park.
 
Gontram, UNCG's redshirt junior left fielder, leads the Spartans with seven home runs and 16 RBIs. Eight of her 10 hits this season have gone for extra bases, and Gontram ranks seventh on UNCG's career home run list with 32.
 
UNCG senior second baseman Jasmine Palmer, the current SoCon player of the week, went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored, raising her batting average to .438 and her on-base percentage to .550. She has not struck out in 40 plate appearances this season, and only six players in the nation have more at-bats with no strikeouts. Palmer ranks second on the team with four home runs and 13 RBIs.
 
Cleanup hitter Kayleigh Willis, who had an 11-game hitting streak snapped at Elon, also has 13 RBIs. She's hitting .400 and 13th in the nation with six doubles.
 
The Spartans rank among the nation's best offensive teams so far this season. Heading into Wednesday's game, they ranked 24th in the nation with a .327 team batting average, then went 13-for-35 against Elon to raise that figure to .332.
 
UNCG has averaged 10.2 runs during its eight-game winning streak, and the Spartans have hit at least four home runs in three games this season. They're averaging 2.08 home runs per game. Only eight teams in the nation are averaging two or more HRs per game.
 
The Spartans rank 15th in the nation in scoring and 19th in on-base percentage.
 
Sophomore right-hander Morgan Scott (3-2) has won three consecutive starts. She pitched a complete game at Elon, lowering her ERA to 3.69. She has struck out 36 in 30.1 innings, and opponents are batting .216 against her.
 
Freshman right-hander Alina Varga is 4-0 with a shutout and a 4.67 ERA in five appearances so far. Varga has struck out 23 in 21 innings.
 
College of Charleston comes in on a four-game losing streak.
 
Junior third baseman Riley Miller is hitting .333 and leads the Cougars with four doubles and five RBIs. Charleston is batting just .208 as a team.
 
Cougars senior Kylie Burke has led the pitching staff. She's 0-2 in six appearances despite a fine 2.56 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. She has walked six and struck out 24 in 27.1 innings.