GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team resumes Southern Conference (SoCon) action this weekend with a series against Samford on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday April 7 at Samford Softball Field.

The two teams are set to face off on Saturday with the doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. EST /1:00 p.m. CST and on Sunday a single game at 2:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. CST.

The Spartans are currently 24-14 overall and 6-0 in the SoCon, while the Bulldogs are 9-25 overall and 2-4 in the conference.  

During the 2023 season, UNCG won the series behind a 2-1 record in Greensboro. The Spartans later defeated Samford twice in the 2023 SoCon Tournament to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 

Saturday, April 6 Opponent: Samford Where: Samford Softball Field | Birmingham, Ala. Time:  2:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. CST Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats

Saturday, April 6 Opponent: Samford Where: Samford Softball Field | Birmingham, Ala. Time:  4:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. CST Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats

Sunday, April 7 Opponent: Samford Where: Samford Softball Field | Birmingham, Ala. Time:  2:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. CST Watch (ESPN+) | Live Stats

 
RUNDOWN ON THE SPARTANS

• Maxwell is pacing the Spartans with a .425 batting average, 35 RBI, and 12 home runs.
• Grace Loftin is second on the team with 27 RBI and 11 homers, while Tori Dalehite is second with a .365 batting average.
• Maxwell is pacing the SoCon in batting average, runs scored, hits, triples, at bats, and assists.
• Maxwell is ranked nationally in the top 10 in three categories: fourth in total bases (110), fifth in hits (54), and seventh in triples (5).
• Jessie Shipley is 25th in the nation with 12 doubles.
• The Spartans are in the top 50 nationally in four categories: 10^th in home runs per game (1.57), 12^th in walks (146), 22^nd in slugging percentage (0.511), and 37^th in double plays per game (0.43).  
• Salem Ward is pacing the Spartans' pitching staff with 53 strikeouts in 59.1 innings of work.
• Rhyann Jones is second on the team with 42 strikeouts in 74.1 innings.
• Maddie Spell was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 26), while Anna White was named SoCon Player of the Week (Feb. 26).
• On March 11, Brooklynn Maxwell was named SoCon Player of the Week and Salem Ward was tabbed SoCon Pitcher of the Week.
• Maxwell was also named SoCon Player of the Month for all competition during the month of February and March.

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG is coming off a 4-1 victory over cross-town rival and non-conference foe NC A&T on Wednesday. 
• Ward pitched her third complete game of the season, striking out five batters and giving up just one earned run.
• Dalehite hit an RBI single to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
• Shipley crushed a solo home run for a 2-1 advantage and then Loftin smashed a two-run home run for a 4-1 lead.

RUNDOWN ON THE BULLDOGS

• The Bulldogs concluded the 2023 season 26-31 overall and 12-6 in the conference.
• Samford was voted to finish second in the 2024 SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Four Bulldogs were voted to the Preseason All-SoCon first team, including McKenzie Newcomb, Logan Champion, Sarah Squillace, and McKayla Cothran.
• They have won three of their last 10 games and most recently dropped an 8-0 loss to Auburn on Wednesday.
• Cothran is leading the Bulldogs at the plate with a .330 batting average swinging 37-for-112 with 11 RBI and 18 runs scored.
• She also has successfully stolen 7-of-10 bases this season.
• Champion paces the team with 16 RBI, while Katie Campbell is first with nine home runs.
• In the circle, Jordyn Partain has tossed 93.2 innings, striking out 63 batters and has a 5-13 record with nine complete games.
• Partain is ninth nationally in games started (19).

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UP NEXT 
The Spartans will return home to host NC A&T on Wednesday, April 10 at the UNCG Softball Stadium for the second game against the Aggies with a start time of 4:00 p.m.