GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team begins the 2026 season in Statesboro, Georgia, at the Bash in the Boro, hosted by Georgia Southern, from Friday, Feb. 6 to Sunday, Feb. 8 at Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex.

The Spartans will face three different opponents this weekend during the tournament, including Western Kentucky, Georgia Southern and Eastern Illinois.
 

Friday, Feb. 6 Opponent: Western Kentucky Where: Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex | Statesboro, Ga. Time:  10:00 a.m. Live Stats   Opponent: Georgia Southern  Where: Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex | Statesboro, Ga. Time: 3:00 p.m. ESPN+ | Live Stats

Saturday, Feb. 7 Opponent: Western Kentucky Where: Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex | Statesboro, Ga. Time: 10:00 a.m. Live Stats   Opponent: Eastern Illinois Where: Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex | Statesboro, Ga. Time: 5:30 p.m.  Live Stats

Sunday, Feb. 8 Opponent: Georgia Southern Where: Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex | Statesboro, Ga. Time: Noon ESPN+ | Live Stats

RUNDOWN ON THE SPARTANS

• UNCG was voted as the favorite in The Southern Conference (SoCon) Preseason Coaches' Poll ahead of the 2026 season. The Spartans earned four first-place votes with 43 points.
• Senior Kaylyn Belfield and junior Macy Michael were voted to the Preseason All-SoCon First Team. Senior Salem Ward, juniors Samantha Beck and Betsy Eatmon and sophomore Hadley Gardner all earned Preseason All-SoCon Second Team recognition.
• The 2026 roster includes 12 returners, seven freshmen and two transfers. Of the 12 returners, five started in 40 or more games last season.
• The Spartans return Belfield, who led the Spartans with a UNCG single season batting average record of .431. 
• The Blue & Gold also has Gardner returning, who was one of three Spartans last season to hit 10 or more homers, placing her second on the team with 11 home runs. 
• Michael is the leading returner in RBI and walks, tallying 36 and 23, respectively during her freshman season.
• UNCG concluded the 2025 season with a 39-18 overall record and a 14-6 SoCon mark.
• This was the seventh-straight season and 10^th year with 30-plus wins under the direction of Head Coach Janelle Breneman, who is now in her 14^th season at the helm.

RUNDOWN ON WESTERN KENTUKCY

• The Hilltoppers were selected to finish fourth with one first-place vote in the 2026 Conference USA Preseason Poll.
• Western Kentucky concluded the 2025 season 30-21-1 overall and 14-10-1 in the Conference USA.
• The squad's 2025 slate was ended with a 6-4 loss to Louisiana Tech in the Conference USA Championship on May 9, 2025.
• Junior Maci Masters returns after leading the team with a .320 batting average, .667 slugging percentage, 46 RBI, 14 home runs, 100 total bases and 32 walks on the 2025 campaign.
• Junior Morgan Sharpe returns after pacing the Hilltoppers with 53 hits and eight stolen bases last year.
• Sophomore Erica Houge is back in the circle for the team after pacing the pitching staff with a 3.02 ERA last season.
• Head Coach Amy Tudor is in her 12^th season at the helm of the Western Kentucky softball program.

RUNDOWN ON GEORGIA SOUTHERN

• Georgia Southern was chosen to finish eighth out of the 12-team league in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Eagles concluded the 2025 season 29-25 overall and 13-11 in the Sun Belt.
• Georgia Southern's 2025 slate was concluded with a 9-2 loss to ULM on May 8, 2025, in the Sun Belt Tournament.
• Alana Barnard was selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team after earning a spot on the 2025 All-Sun Belt Second Team last year.
• Barnard posted a 7-4 record in 15 appearances, including 13 starts and finished second in the Sun Belt with a 2.18 ERA across 64.1 innings pitched.
• She led the conference by allowing just 57 hits, 25 runs and 16 walks, while holding opposing hitters to a .234 batting average.
• Emma Davis is the leading returner with a .333 batting average, 28 RBI, 50 hits and 15 stolen bases.
• Delanie Thames returns after pacing the Eagles with seven home runs, two triples, 71 total bases and a .477 slugging percentage.
• Head Coach Sharon Perkins is in her fourth season at the helm of the Georgia Southern softball program.

RUNDOWN ON EASTERN ILLINOIS

• Last season, the Panthers defeated SIUE in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Championship to earn the automatic bid in the 2025 NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three years.
• Eastern Illinois fell to Texas, 10-2, and UCF, 10-2, to conclude the 2025 campaign.
• The Panthers finished the 2025 season 34-22 overall and 21-5 in conference, winning the OVC Regular Season Title.
• Karlie McKenzie was ranked No. 79 on the D1Softball.com preseason rankings for Mid-Major Players. The senior pitcher made 38 appearances with 17 starts in the circle going 11-3 with a 2.79 ERA and an OVC leading six saves.
• Bryanna French appeared in 19 games, making two starts in the circle during the 2025 season posting a 3-4 record with one save and a 3.95 ERA.
• Abbi Hatton led the team with 38 RBI, which ranked fourth in the OVC during the 2025 season.
• Mo Hance returns after being named All-OVC First Team last season and to OVC All-Newcomer Team, hitting .360 for the season with three doubles, 16 RBI and 25 runs scored. Hance drew 11 walks to post an on-base percentage of .398.
• Co-Head Coaches Dan and Kristi Paulson are in their second season leading the Eastern Illinois softball.

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UP NEXT 
The Spartans will begin their home slate with the Spiro Classic from Friday, Feb. 13 to Sunday, Feb. 15 in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the UNCG Softball Stadium. UNCG will host Columbia at 3:00 p.m. and Fairfield at 5:30 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, the Spartans will take on Appalachian State at 3:00 p.m. followed by another matchup against Fairfield at 5:30 p.m. UNCG will conclude the tournament on Sunday, facing Appalachian State at 1:30 p.m.