CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – The top-seeded UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team punched its eighth ticket in program history to the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament behind a 4-0 shutout victory over the second-seeded Samford Bulldogs on Sunday at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
This was the Spartans 10
th appearance in a SoCon Championship in program history. UNCG earned its fourth SoCon sweep (2018, 2021, 2023, 2026) by earning its seventh Regular Season Title and fourth SoCon Championship. This is the first sweep since 2023. In four conference championships, this is the first shutout for the Spartans.
The Spartans earned their 17th shutout of the season, which is the most since 2000 when UNCG had 19.
The battery of SoCon Pitcher of the Year
Brooklyn Shroyer and
Madelyn McKinnon tossed their third one-hitter of the season. Shroyer recorded her 14th complete game of the season and 47th of her career, as she earned her 21st win of the season and 49th of her career. Her 21 wins sit tied for eighth in UNCG single season pitching records and her 185 strikeouts sit sixth in UNCG single season records. This is her 11th shutout of the season, which is now tied for second in UNCG single season records.
With UNCG's four RBI today, the Spartans have now broken the single season record for RBI with 322, which they previously broke last year with 318.
UNCG has now surpassed the 40-win mark, and it is the second time in Head Coach
Janelle Breneman's 14 seasons at UNCG and only fourth time in program history.
Shroyer was named the SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player and to the All-Tournament Team, while SoCon Freshman of the Year
Avery Bouquin,
Laney Deane and
Macy Michael were also selected to the All-Tournament Team. Shroyer's Most Outstanding Player Award is the seventh for UNCG and first since 2023 when Maddie Spell earned the honor.
The Spartans are now 42-17 overall and the Bulldogs are 27-30.
- Samford drew a walk in the first inning, but the Spartans retired the side with three fly outs.
- The Spartans responded with two walks and Bouquin tallied the first hit of the game in the bottom of the first. However, Samford's defense kept UNCG from doing any more damage.
- Following a quick one-two-three second inning by the Spartans, which included two strikeouts by Shroyer, UNCG put a tally up thanks to Rylie Williams' fourth homer of the season, 1-0. She sent the ball over the left field wall giving UNCG the lead.
- Shroyer shut down the Bulldogs in the top of the third and then Bouquin launched a two-run home run over the left field wall to extend the Spartans' advantage to 3-0. This was her seventh homer of the season.
- After five hitless innings, Katie Hart recorded the first hit for the Bulldogs in the top of the sixth. Shroyer struck out two in the frame and then retired the third on a pop up, stranding Hart on base.
- In the bottom of the sixth with one out, Williams singled to shallow center field. McKinnon then doubled to right field to drive in Williams, extending UNCG's lead to 4-0.
- Shroyer had a dynamic outing in the top of the seventh, getting three Bulldogs to pop out to secure the win and ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
- Williams went 3-for-3 in the game with two runs, one RBI and one homer.
- At the plate, Bouquin went 2-for-3 with one run scored, two RBI and one home run.
- Shroyer concluded the game with seven complete innings of work, one hit allowed, three walks and seven strikeouts.
PITCHING RECORD
Brooklyn Shroyer: W, 21-6
Makinley Turner: L, 10-11
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UP NEXT
The 2026 SoCon Regular Season and Tournament Champions, UNCG will receive its fate in the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament tonight, with the selection show at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., RHP, UNCG
Knight Commission Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Madelyn McKinnon, Sr., C, UNCG
All-Tournament Team
Avery Bouquin, UNCG
Laney Deane, UNCG
Macy Michael, UNCG
Brooklyn Shroyer, UNCG
Baileigh Pitts, Chattanooga
Taylor Long, Chattanooga
Katie Hart, Samford
Olivia Shaw, Samford
Makinley Turner, Samford
Lily Bell, Western Carolina
