GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball team is set for its 2025 home opener, hosting the Spiro Classic on Thursday, Friday and Sunday in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the UNCG Softball Stadium.

The Spartans will welcome three different opponents this weekend during the tournament, including Merrimack, Georgetown and Toledo.
 
Click here for information about the Spiro Classic
 

 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE SPARTANS

• UNCG began the 2025 season by going 3-2 at the Elon Tournament from Thursday, Feb. 6 to Sunday Feb. 9 in Elon, North Carolina, at Hunt Softball Stadium.
• The Spartans secured a 14-5 (5 inning) victory over North Carolina Central on Thursday to begin the season.
• UNCG dropped its next two games against Ohio State, 10-6, and Ohio, 14-10.
• The Spartans concluded the tournament with two consecutive victories over UConn, 15-6, and Elon, 9-2.
• UNCG totaled 11 hits in its victory over Elon for its fifth-straight game with 10 or more hits.
• UNCG totaled 15 home runs in the five games played.   

RUNDOWN ON THE SPARTANS

• Loftin is leading the Spartans with 12 hits.
• Jessie Shipley is pacing the team with five homers and 23 total bases.
• Meredith Harwood stands out with 10 RBI in the five-game stretch.
• Reese Byrd is standing out in the circle with 13 strikeouts.
• UNCG was chosen to finish second in The Southern Conference (SoCon) Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Spartans received one first-place vote.  
• The Spartans concluded the 2024 season 33-26 overall and 13-8 in the SoCon.
• It was the fifth-straight season with 30 or more wins.
• It was also the ninth year with 30 or more wins under the direction of Head Coach Janelle Breneman, who is in her 13^th year with the Blue & Gold.
• The Spartans saw another successful statistical year, leading the SoCon in home runs per game (1.37), home runs (81), slugging percentage (0.490), triples per game (0.22) and walks (240).
• UNCG was also ranked nationally in the top 30 in four categories: sixth in walks, 11^th in home runs, 14^th in home runs per game and 30^th in slugging percentage.
• Loftin was named to the SoCon Preseason First Team, while Betsy Eatmon and Jorde Chartrand were voted to the Preseason Second Team.
• The Spartans reached the SoCon Championship game for the sixth-straight year in 2024, excluding the COVID 2020 shortened season, falling to Chattanooga in the double elimination game.
• UNCG added four freshmen and two transfers.
• Loftin returns for her senior year with the Spartans after swinging a career-best .323 at the plate, finishing second last season to 2024 SoCon Player of the Year, Brooklynn Maxwell.
• Loftin led the team with a career-high 40 walks and was second on the team with a career-best 13 home runs, 40 runs scored and 35 RBI.
• Eatmon was third with eight homers and fifth with 25 RBI.
• Shipley is also returning for the Spartans after finishing fourth with a career-best .301 batting average and leading the team with a career-high 15 doubles.
• The Spartans have four of their pitchers returning this season, including Chartrand.

RUNDOWN ON MERRIMACK

• The Spiro Classic will begin the 2025 season for the Warriors.
• This will be the first season for Merrimack as a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The team previously competeed in the Northeast Conference (NEC).
• Merrimack concluded the 2024 season 19-34 overall and 12-12 in the NEC.
• In 2024, the Warriors won their most games ever at a Division-I level, with 19 wins on the season.
• Ellen Hubbard returns as the leading hitter on the team with 11 total hits last season and led the squad with 12 doubles.
• Anna Gedacht is the best returning pitcher for the Warriors with 33 strikeouts and a 2.77 ERA last season.
• The Warriors were picked to finish in a tie for ninth place with Quinnipiac in the 2025 MAAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Head Coach Elaine Schwager is in her 11^th season at the helm of Merrimack softball.
• UNCG claimed the last and only meeting with Merrimack on March 7, 2024, in Greensboro in a 5-3 victory.

RUNDOWN ON GEORGETOWN

• The Hoyas began the 2025 season by going 3-2 at the Charleston Southern University (CSU) Kickoff tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, from Friday, Feb. 7 to Sunday, Feb. 9.
• Georgetown secured wins over Bellarmine (7-1, 8-4) and Charleston Southern (15-7), but dropped both its matches with Siena (6-0, 7-1).
• Dani Koo was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week on Monday after an impressive performance at the CSU Kickoff in Charleston, South Carolina.
• Koo started in all five contests for the Hoyas, where she batted .316 (6-19) with two homers and three RBI. 
• The Hoyas return junior outfielder and Second Team All-BIG EAST honoree Claire Turner along with junior Dayanara Campos, who had the second most home runs in a single season in program history just a year ago.
• Georgetown welcomed four freshmen Koo, Maggie Howard, Nina Sarlo, Emily Collins) and two graduate transfers (Sage Hager, Sammy Fenton) to the team this spring.
• Head Coach Karla Ross is in her first season with Georgetown. Ross comes to Georgetown from DePaul University where she served as the associate head coach for one season.
• Georgetown concluded the 2024 season 14-33 overall and 4-20 in the BIG EAST.  
• The Hoyas were picked to finish last in the 2025 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• Friday's meeting will be the first time the Hoyas and Spartans have competed together in program history.

RUNDOWN ON TOLEDO

• Toledo began the 2025 season by going 3-1 at the Gamecock Invitational from Friday, Feb. 7 to Sunday, Feb. 9 in Columbia, South Carolina.
• The Rockets secured wins over Saint Francis (8-1) and Providence (1-0, 11-3, five innings), but fell to Virginia, 4-1.
• Toledo concluded the 2024 season 26-23 overall and 15-10 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
• Toledo was selected third in the MAC Preseason Coaches' Poll with one first-place vote and one tournament champion vote, marking the best preseason ranking in program history.
• Toledo returns four position players for their senior seasons: 2024 First Team All-MAC second baseman Sidney Griffith, shortstop Eli Enriquez, right fielder Kendra VanderlLugt and catcher Maris Barbato.
• The Rockets pitching staff returns four players from last season, including Sophia Knight, Kylee Graham and MAC All-Freshman Team honoree Mady Yackee.
• The team has welcomed eight freshmen into the fold, including three infielders, two outfielders, two utility players and one pitcher.
• UNCG holds the 4-1 advantage over Toledo in the overall meetings.
• The Spartans secured the last meeting with the Rockets in a 9-8 victory on Feb. 24, 2006, in Kennesaw, Georgia.

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UP NEXT 
The Spartans will take a short mid-week trip to Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Wednesday, Feb. 19 to take on Winthrop at 3:00 p.m.