GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team will host Southern Mississippi on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. at UNCG Softball Stadium.
 

Game 31: UNCG (18-12, 0-0 SoCon) vs. Southern Mississippi (20-11, 2-1 Sun Belt)
Date	Wednesday, March 18
Time	4:00 p.m.
Location	Greensboro, N.C. (UNCG Softball Stadium)
Tickets	FREE ADMISSION
Concessions	Concessions will be open
Promotions	Bingo, BOGO Hot Dogs, Alcohol Sales Available
Pets	Only service animals are allowed at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
Coverage	Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Social Media	X: @uncgsoftball  Instagram: @uncgsb Facebook: UNCGSoftball

LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• The Spartans have won the last 15 of 18 games after going 3-0 hosting the UNCG Tournament this past weekend.
• UNCG defeated Lehigh twice with scores of 8-1 and 5-2. The Spartans also took down Tarleton State, 8-0, in six innings.
• The shutout over the Texans was the ninth of the season for the Spartans.

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 as well as 43 points.
• Kaylyn Belfield and Macy Michael were voted to the Preseason All-SoCon First Team. 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 have 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.
• Belfield is leading the SoCon in hits with 41 and paces the Spartans with a .398 batting average and 26 runs scored.
• Avery Bouquin is second on the team with a .367 hitting clip, 16 runs scored, eight doubles and 17 RBI.
• Laney Deane is pacing the SoCon in doubles (10), doubles per game (0.33) and RBI (33). She is also second in hit by pitch (6) and total bases (60).
• Deane leads the Spartans with seven homers, while Nya South and Michael have six apiece.
• Brooklyn Shroyer is leading the SoCon in complete games (7), ERA (1.62), hits allowed (3.93), innings pitched (82.0), pitching appearances (17), shutouts (6), strikeouts (98), victories (9) and WHIP (0.95).
• She is nationally ranked in the top 25 in four categories: shutouts (1^st/6), strikeouts (14^th/98), hits allowed per seven innings (16^th/3.93) and complete games (25^th/7).
• UNCG is leading the SoCon in doubles (49), ERA (2.42), hit by pitch (19), hits (224), team strikeouts per seven innings (5.81) and WHIP (1.29).  

RUNDOWN ON SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

• The Golden Eagles come to Greensboro 20-11 overall and 2-1 in the Sun Belt.
• Southern Mississippi opened its conference slate hosting Louisiana this past weekend, going 2-1.
• The Golden Eagles were selected to finish 11^th in the 2026 Sun Belt Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll out of the 12-team league. 
• Hannah Christian was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.
• The Golden Eagles are currently pacing the Sun Belt in fielding percentage (.979), hit by pitch (26), total sacrifice flies (20), triples (10), triples per game (0.32) and walks (125).
• Christian leads the league in hits with 44. She also is pacing the Golden Eagles with a .411 batting average, .533 slugging percentage, 23 RBI, eight doubles, 57 total bases, 10 stolen bases and 107 at bats.
• Madison Johnson paces the squad with three triples this season.
• Kayla Giardini stands out in the circle with a 2.12 ERA and 53 strikeouts.
• Head Coach Natalie Poole is in her fourth season at the helm of the Southern Mississippi softball program.
• Southern Mississippi concluded the 2025 season 23-29 overall and 10-4 in the Sun Belt.

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UP NEXT
UNCG will begin the 2026 SoCon slate at ETSU on Saturday and Sunday. The Spartans will face the Bucs in a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. before closing out the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Betty Basler Field.