Who: NC State (9-1, 0-0 ACC)
When: Tuesday, February 22, 2022
Time: 4 PM
Where: Raleigh, N.C. | Dail Softball Stadium
Live Stats | ACCNX | Tickets

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team, who is 5-3 overall, takes on in-state opponent NC State for a Tuesday afternoon clash in Raleigh, N.C.

The Spartans and Wolfpack recently hosted their own tournaments where UNCG went 4-0 and NC State went 5-0.

First pitch is set for 4 p.m. with the game broadcast live on ACC Network Extra. Fans will need to request a virtual parking permit in order to park on campus for the game on Tuesday.
 
PRESEASON PRESENTS
UNCG was chosen as the Southern Conference (SoCon) favorite in the preseason poll for the second-straight season.
Graduate student Makenna Matthijs was voted Preseason Player of the Year, as well as to the first team as an outfielder.
 
Junior Morgan Scott was selected as Preseason Pitcher of the Year, as well as to the first team.
 
Senior catcher Delaney Cumbie and junior infielder Maycin Brown were also tabbed on the first team.
 
Sophomore infielder Brooklynn Maxwell was voted to the second team.

FRESH FACES
Head Coach Janelle Breneman welcomed five additions to the 2022 Blue & Gold squad, including two pitchers, two infielders, and an outfielder.
The pitchers: Reese Byrd (Suffolk, Va.) and Graysen Hunter (Williamston, S.C.)
The infielders: Jessie Shipley (Sugar Land, Texas) and Meredith Harwood (Stanfield, N.C.)
The outfielder: Grace Loftin (Conover, N.C.)
 
Get to know Hunter, Byrd, and Loftin
Get to know Shipley and Harwood
 
DEPTH IN RETURNERS
Fourteen Spartans are listed on the roster from last year's team, including eight that started in 20 or more of the 51 games played in 2021.
 
Last season the Spartans saw five players bat above .300. Three of the five are returning, including offensive leader Matthijs who averaged .355 at the plate and was third in the SoCon. The two others are: Brown (.352) and Maxwell (.301).
 
Matthijs, Scott, Cumbie, and Brown also return as UNCG had six ranked in the top 100 in individual stat categories. Scott was named SoCon Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, as well as selected to the All-SoCon first team in 2021.
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Graduate student Jordan Gontram earned the first SoCon Player of the Week award for the Spartans on Monday.

• .636 batting average
• two home runs
• 7-for-11 at the plate
• 5 RBI
• 1.273 slugging percentage
• .636 on-base percentage

 SPARTANS' LAST TIME OUT

• UNCG hosted the Spiro Classic from Friday, February 18 to Sunday, February 20.
• The Spartans went 4-0 with two wins over Rider and two versus George Washington.
• Two of the four were run-ruled games.
• As a team, UNCG knocked out eight home runs and totaled 32 RBI.
• Gontram led the way with a .636 batting average, while Brown averaged .538 at the plate.
• In the circle, freshman Reese Byrd threw 10.0 innings with a 0.70 ERA earning her first two-collegiate wins.
• Junior Morgan Scott (8.1 innings, 1.68 ERA) and freshman Graysen Hunter (5.2 innings, 1.24 ERA) also earned wins.

 SCOUTING NC STATE

• NC State wrapped up 2021 with a 26-25 overall mark and 15-22 in ACC play.
• The Wolfpack returns 12 players from the 2021 campaign highlighted by All-ACC third team selection Randi Farricker who led the league with 17 home runs.
• Logan Morris is also returning as she was named a NFCA All-Region third team selection.
• The 2022 roster is comprised of nine newcomers – five freshmen and four transfers.
• Freshman Alaina Smith was selected as one of the top 75 freshmen who could make an immediate impact in 2022 by D1 Softball.
• The Wolfpack was selected to finish ninth in the ACC in 2022.
• Kaylee Lambrecht, who has started and played in all 10 games, is averaging .515 at the plate, scoring 10 runs, and driving in 11 RBI.
• Lambrecht and Smith are 3-for-3 in stealing bases.
• Carson Shaner (4), Lambrecht (3), and Randi Farricker (3) have tallied multiple home runs.
• In the circle, Aisha Weixlmann has tossed 22.0 innings for a 0.95 ERA, while Sam Gress has thrown 23.0 innings with a 1.22 ERA.

 HISTORY VS. NC STATE

• The Spartans are 6-14 against the Wolfpack.
• UNCG defeated NC State on April 3, 2019 with a score of 2-1. The Spartans have a two-game win streak.