GREENSBORO, N.C. – The No. 1 Samford University softball team will face host institution No.4 UNCG on Thursday, May 12, at 11:30 a.m. CST to open play in the 2016 SoCon Championship Tournament. The Spartans won their first round game on Wednesday 3-2 over No.5 ETSU.

How To Follow
Twitter - @SamfordSB
Live Stream – SoCon Digital Network
 
Series At A Glance

• The all-time series record between the Bulldogs and the Spartans is tied 14-14.
• Samford swept UNCG in the last week of the regular season (3-1, 6-5, 3-2) and tomorrow's meeting will be the fourth consecutive contest against the Spartans for Samford.
• Samford has won the last nine games against the Spartans with the last loss occurring at home in Birmingham on March 22, 2014.

 
News, Notes & Nuggets

• Megan Dowdy was name the 2016 SoCon Player of the Year after having a stellar senior season for the Bulldogs. Dowdy continued to break program records as she now holds six career batting titles for the Bulldogs which is highlighted by her 24 doubles which ranks 1^st in the nation and is a single-season record.
• Redshirt senior Mollie Hanson claimed SoCon Pitcher of the Year after accumulating numerous SoCon awards throughout the regular season. The five-time SoCon Player of the Week and SoCon Pitcher of the Month (April) recorded an 11-1 record in Southern Conference play and a 10-0 record at home with a 1.72 ERA.
• Numerous other Bulldogs highlighted the All-SoCon First, Second and Freshman Team lists as Samford placed at least one on each team over all nine defensive positions.
• Senior Callie Brister joined Hanson and Dowdy on the All-SoCon First Team. The Tuscaloosa, Alabama native is the Bulldogs career record holder in home runs and RBIs.
• Caitlin Bice, Abbie Miranda, Lexie Higgins and Shelby Maze accounted for the Samford presence on the All-SoCon Second Team. Bice holds the single-season record holder for walks in a season and ranks 37^th nationally in walks.
• Freshmen Kelsey Royalty and Hannah Trombley represented the Bulldogs on the All-SoCon Freshman Team. Royalty has been a mainstay for the Bulldogs out in right field and has provided a solid bat in the Bulldogs lineup. Trombley started the majority of the season behind the plate for the Bulldogs until she injured herself on April 3, in the series finale against Chattanooga. Trombley jumped back into action in a pinch hit at-bat in the series opening win against UNCG with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 8^th inning with two outs.