GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team will host three teams for the 2024 Spiro Classic which will be held from Friday, February 16 to Sunday, February 18 at the UNCG Softball Stadium. The Spartans will host Sacred Heart, Drexel, and Ohio this weekend.
 
All regular season softball home games are free admission. Concessions will not be open and outside food is permitted. Concessions will open March 3 and outside food will not be permitted when concessions open. All weekday home games (not including Friday) will be Bark in the Park games, where spectators can bring their dogs.
 
Spiro Classic Tournament Central
 

Friday, February 16 Opponent: Sacred Heart Where: UNCG Softball Stadium | Greensboro, N.C. Time:  12:30 p.m. Live Stats   Opponent: Drexel Where: UNCG Softball Stadium | Greensboro, N.C. Time:  5:30 p.m. Live Stats

Satuday, February 17 Opponent: Ohio Where: UNCG Softball Stadium | Greensboro, N.C. Time:  12:30 p.m. Live Stats   Opponent: Drexel Where: UNCG Softball Stadium | Greensboro, N.C. Time:  3 p.m. Live Stats

Sunday, February 18 Opponent: TBD Where: UNCG Softball Stadium | Greensboro, N.C. Time:  TBD Live Stats

 
RUNDOWN ON THE SPARTANS

• UNCG was chosen to finish first in The Southern Conference (SoCon) Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Spartans received four first-place votes.
• Senior Brooklynn Maxwell, redshirt-junior Maddie Spell, and junior Jorde Chartrand were named to the SoCon Preseason first team.
• Junior Grace Loftin and sophomore Rhyann Jones were named to the SoCon Preseason second team.
• UNCG won its sixth-straight SoCon Regular Season title in 2023.
• The Spartans won their third SoCon Tournament Championship in route to the program's seventh NCAA Tournament bid.
• This was their third ticket to the NCAA Tournament in six years.
• Maycin Brown and Blayke Batten return for their fifth year in the Blue & Gold.
• UNCG added five freshmen and one transfer to the 2024 roster.

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG split its home opening doubleheader against Winthrop Wednesday night at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
• The Spartans claimed game one 6-1 and then fell in eight innings, 5-4.
• In the first game, Maxwell went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Jessie Shipley went 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and a walk.
• Maddie Spell struck out four batters, gave up a walk, and one earned run in her second win of the season in the circle.
• In game two, Chartrand hit her first home run of the season, a grand slam to give the Spartans a 4-2 lead before the Eagles came back for the win.
• In the circle, Rhyann Jones struck out four batters, while Salem Ward struck out three.

 
RUNDOWN ON SACRED HEART (SHU)

• The Pioneers went 18-29 overall last season and 9-12 in the Northeast Conference (NEC).
• This will be SHU's season opening weekend.
• The Pioneers were picked to finish fifth in the 2024 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Sacred Heart returns 2023 NEC Rookie of the Year Sam Kowalski and 2023 NEC Golden Glove Award winner Victoria LoPinto.
• SHU also brings back All-NEC first teamer Emily Carroll and All-Rookie member Nicole Henke.
• Carroll led the 2023 squad with a .354 batting average swinging 52-for-147 at the plate. She tallied eight doubles, a team-best two triples, five home runs, and 23 RBI.
• In the circle, Kowalski had a 9-12 record with a 3.62 ERA. She tossed 133.1 innings with 13 complete games, two shutouts, and struck out 117 batters.

RUNDOWN ON DREXEL

• The Dragons concluded 2023 with a 12-37 overall mark and a 5-18 record in the CAA.
• Drexel enters the Spiro Classic 0-5 overall after playing in The Southern Conference (SoCon) foe's Mercer Heart of Georgia Classic.
• Ameryn Humble and Lindsey Hunt were named to the 2024 CAA Preseason Watch List.
• The team was picked to finish 11^th in the conference's preseason poll.
• Grace Abbonizio is currently leading the team with a .385 batting average.
• Kalea Calugay is pacing the team with six RBI.
• Lindsay Nelson has tossed 14.1 innings in the circle for the Dragons, giving up 22 hits and striking out seven batters.

 RUNDOWN ON OHIO

• The Bobcats were voted to finish second in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They received three first-place votes.
• Ohio finished the 2023 season with a 32-23 overall record and 20-9 in the MAC.
• Ohio is currently 1-4 overall this season after playing in the FAU Paradise Classic.
• The Bobcats' lone win was a 9-0 shutout against Michigan State in their season opener.
• Izzie Wilson is leading the Bobcats with a .455 batting average.
• Emma Hoffner is second on the team with a .364 batting average.
• Skipp Miller leads the pitching staff with 16.0 innings thrown. She has a 4.38 ERA with a 1-2 record in the circle.

 
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UP NEXT
The Spartans will battle in-state foe North Carolina on Wednesday, February 21 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with a first pitch at 4:00 p.m.