SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNC Greensboro (UNCG) baseball senior Rob Ready was named The Southern Conference (SoCon) Preseason Pitcher of the Year, while the Spartans were tabbed to finish first in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league on Thursday.

Ready was also one of six Spartans named to either the All-SoCon First or Second Team. He was accompanied by three other Spartans on the first team, including Grant Aycock (RP), Luke Holland (OF) and Trey Truitt (DH). Hunter Shuey and Danny Thompson Jr. rounded out the preseason accolades for UNCG on the All-SoCon Second Team at starting pitcher and relief pitcher, respectively.

UNCG collected three first-place votes and 40 points to finish on top of the SoCon's Preseason Poll. Samford was a close second, receiving three-place votes and 38 points. Wofford and ETSU checked in at third and tied for fourth with one vote for first each as well as 34 and 30 points, respectively. Mercer tied for fourth with ETSU by having 30 points in the poll.

The Spartans are coming off a 33-21 season that saw a 15-6 finish in league play to earn the SoCon Regular Season Championship. UNCG led the SoCon a season ago in ERA (5.19), fewest runs allowed (297) and lowest opponent batting average (.267).

Rob Ready
SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year
All-SoCon First Team (SP)
Senior | RHP | Bridgeton, N.J.

• 2024 All-SoCon Preseason Second Team
• Named SoCon Pitcher of the Week (3/25/24)
• Pitched and started in 12 games with a 3.95 ERA last season
• Put together a 3-2 record in 2024
• Posted 41 strikeouts in 66 innings of work

Grant Aycock
All-SoCon First Team (RP)
Junior | RHP | Greensboro, N.C.

• 2024 All-SoCon Media First Team
• Made 17 relief appearances and pitched 33.1 innings last season
• Posted a 4.59 ERA and a .218 opponent batting average
• Owned a 3-1 record with a pair of saves
• Recorded 38 strikeouts and only issued 20 walks

Luke Holland
All-SoCon First Team (OF)
Junior | Outfielder | Cornelius, N.C.

• Played in 31 total games and made 29 starts last year
• Posted a .343 batting average in 99 at-bats
• Scored 29 times and drove in 26 runs
• Blasted eight home runs, had three doubles and a pair of triples
• Stole 10 bases on the year and finished with 34 hits

Trey Truitt
All-SoCon First Team (DH)
Senior | Outfielder | Matthews, N.C.

• Played 40 games and made 39 starts in first season (2024) at UNCG
• Batted .252 and clubbed four home runs throughout the season
• Totaled 29 RBI and scored 37 runs
• Finished with seven doubles and paced the team with three triples
• Successfully stole eight bases on nine tries

Hunter Shuey
All-SoCon Second Team (SP)
Senior | RHP | Hamburg, Pa.

• 2024 All-SoCon First Team (SP) & Second Team (RP)
• Posted a career-best 6-2 record after making 15 appearances and eight starts on the mound last season
• Pitched a career-high 52.2 innings and struck out 39 hitters
• Held opposing batters to .241 batting average
• Posted a 4.10 earned run average for the season

Danny Thompson Jr.
All-SoCon Second Team (RP)
Sophomore | RHP | Hickory, N.C.

• Made 21 relief appearances throughout last season
• Led the Spartans with four saves while posting a 5-3 record
• Pitched 38 innings and totaled 51 strikeouts
• Owned a 4.50 earned run average
• Held opponents to a .241 batting average

2025 SoCon Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Preseason Player of the Year: Ty Dalley (MER)

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Michael Harpster (ETSU)/Rob Ready (UNCG)

First Team All-Conference
·       Starting Pitchers: Michael Harpster (ETSU), Rob Ready (UNCG), Dusty Revis (WCU)/Colton Cosper(MER)
·       Relief Pitchers: Kenny Michaels (WOF), Grant Aycock (UNCG), Jess Ackerman (MER)
·       Catcher: JD Yakubinis (ETSU)
·       First Base: Grayson Fitzwater (VMI)
·       Second Base: Travis Elliot(CIT)
·       Shortstop: Bradley Frye (MER)
·       Third Base: Cody Miller(ETSU)
·       Outfielders: Ty Dalley (MER), David Wiley (WOF), Andrew Mannelly (WOF)/Luke Holland (UNCG)
·       Designated Hitter: Trey Truitt (UNCG)
 
Second Team All-Conference
·       Starting Pitchers: Hunter Shuey (UNCG), Miller Riggins (SAM), Dylan Rhadans (WOF)
·       Relief Pitchers: Evan Steckmesser (SAM), Alec Bauchard (WOF), Champ Davis (WOF)/Daniel Thompson (UNCG)
·       Catcher: Lucas Manning (WOF)/Jack Spyke (WCU)
·       First Base: Tyler Hare (WOF)
·       Second Base: Jeffrey Ince (SAM)
·       Shortstop: Trent Turner (WCU)
·       Third Base: Mason Holton (WCU)
·       Outfielders: Owen Prince (VMI), Hayden Friese (WCU), Blake Jacklin (ETSU)/Jamie Palmese (ETSU)
·       Designated Hitter: Will Smoot (ETSU)

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THE SEASON OPENER
The Spartans will open the season hosting a three-game series against Creighton at UNCG Baseball Stadium from Feb. 14-16. First pitch for the first game of the series is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.