ATHENS, Ga. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team has no margin for error as it prepares to meet Western Kentucky in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Jack Turner Stadium on the University of Georgia campus.
 
UNCG dropped a 2-0 decision to No. 13 seed Duke on Friday while Western Kentucky saw an early advantage evaporate into an 11-3 defeat to host Georgia. The winner of this elimination game keeps playing. They will play immediately at the conclusion of the game against the loser of the Duke-Georgia contest at 5 p.m.
 
Television and/or streaming information will be released late Friday or early Saturday morning.
 
While disappointed with their 0-for-4 effort with runners in scoring and stranding six base runners, the Spartan goals of advancing to the Super Regionals and winning a tournament game for the first time in program history are still within reach.
 
This will be the second meeting in program history against the Hilltoppers, the Conference USA tournament champion.
 
In the setback to Duke, freshman Brooklynn Maxwell had two of UNCG's four hits. Junior Makenna Matthijs and sophomore Maycin Brown had the other hits for the Spartans, who have won 16 of their last 18 games. Sophomore hurler Morgan Scott had six strikeouts against the Blue Devils.
 
Matthijs was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Mideast Region Second Team. She leads UNCG in hits (61), runs (43), RBIs (44), and home runs (13). The Spartans have smacked a program-record 89 home runs, which was tied for fourth in the country with Arkansas entering the NCAA Tournament.
 
Like UNCG, Western Kentucky is making its third NCAA appearance in program history. The Hilltoppers (31-14) won three elimination games in the Conference USA Tournament to secure the league's automatic bid.
 
Kennedy Sullivan was named the Conference USA Tournament MVP while Brylee Hage, Paige Carter, Shelby Nunn, Kendall Smith and Princess Valencia all landed All-Tournament Team nods. Paige Carter and Sullivan were recently named NFCA All-Region selections. Carter, an outfielder, earned second team honors while Sullivan brought in third team recognition in the utility/pitcher slot.
 
Sullivan led the Hilltoppers with three hits, including a RBI double in the first inning that gave WKU a 1-0 lead over Georgia. The Hilltoppers tied the game at 3 in the fifth inning on Taylor Sanders' second hit of the game that scored Sullivan. Shelby Nunn started and struck out five batters over 5.1 innings.
 
"We have the offense and pitching staff to come out to have success (Saturday)," UNCG head coach Janelle Breneman said. "This is not how we wanted to start. We will dig deeper and be prepared to play every inning. I thought every at-bat in every inning we were in the game. I am proud of the fight and competitiveness we showed today."