Day two of SoCon Softball Championships in the books

No. 1 UNCG 19, No. 4 Wofford 4
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 1 seed UNCG had an offensive explosion in the first game of day two at the 2026 SoCon Softball Championship presented by Chattanooga Tourism Company at Frost Stadium on Friday, winning, 19-4, over No. 4 seed Wofford.

The Spartans (40-17) advanced to play at 10 a.m. on Saturday against the winner of the Samford and Western Carolina game. Wofford (34-18) will face No. 6 seed ETSU in an elimination game at 4 p.m. later today.

The two teams combined for a total of four hits in the first 2 ½ innings played. UNCG began its offensive outburst in the bottom of the third. Second-team all-conference selection Nya South hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Madelyn McKinnon for the game’s first run. Fellow second-team performer Laney Deane crushed a three-run homer to left field in the next at-bat, making the score 4-0.

The bottom half of the fourth inning was record-breaking for the Spartans. UNCG finished with 12 hits and 15 runs in the inning, both establishing new records for the SoCon Tournament. The frame was highlighted by three-run home runs from first-team all-conference selection Macy Michael and second team pick and SoCon Freshman of the Year Avery Bouquin.

Wofford got all of its runs in the fifth inning. First-team all-conference selection Brianna Stanley hit a bases-clearing double, giving the Terriers their first three runs. Two batters later, Kaytlin Greenwood hit an RBI single, bringing Madison Thieke across home plate for the game’s final score.

SoCon Pitcher of the Year Brooklyn Shroyer (19-6) threw four innings for UNCG, recording eight strikeouts and giving up three hits.

Six different Spartans had two or more hits. Bouquin finished the game with five RBIs, while Michael and Deane each had four.

UNCG set conference tournament records for most runs in a game (19), most RBIs (19) and largest margin of victory (15). The two teams combined for the most runs scored in a SoCon Tournament game (23).

No. 2 Samford 14, No. 3 Western Carolina 1
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The No. 2 seed Samford Bulldogs defeated the No. 3 seed Western Carolina Catamounts, 14-1, in five innings on Friday during the 2026 SoCon Softball Championship presented by Chattanooga Tourism Company at Frost Stadium.

Samford (27-29) will now face the No. 1 seed UNCG at 10 a.m. on Saturday, with the winner of that game advancing to the championship round. Western Carolina (34-23) will face No. 5 Chattanooga in an elimination game later today at 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs began the game with three straight singles, before Addison Smith had an RBI single to bring the first run of the game across home plate. Brantley Drake and Brooke Wildes each singled on the next two at-bats, driving in three more runs to give Samford a 4-0 lead.

In the top of the second inning, Western Carolina scored their run. After hitting a double to lead off the frame, Maya McPherson scored on a wild pitch later in the inning.

Samford got four more runs in the second. The first coming from an RBI single by Ella Nelson. Drake and Wildes once again drove in runs, Drake on a double and Wildes on a single.

Olivia Shaw and Katie Campbell, both first-team all-conference selections, each drove in a run during the third inning, making the score 10-1. One inning later, Shaw blasted a two-out grand slam to left field, stretching the Bulldogs lead to 14-1.

Shaw, who is the SoCon Player of the Year, went 4-for-4, including the grand slam and two doubles, while logging five RBIs and three runs scored. Drake finished with four RBIs.

No. 4 Wofford 5, No. 6 ETSU 4
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 4 seed Wofford rallied back to defeat No. 6 seed ETSU, 5-4, during the third game of the day at the 2026 SoCon Softball Championship presented by Chattanooga Tourism Company at Frost Stadium.

Wofford advances to Saturday’s 1 p.m. game against either No. 3 seed Western Carolina or No. 5 seed Chattanooga. ETSU ends its season at 22-30.

ETSU got on the board in the top of the first inning. Whitney Boone hit an RBI single, scoring one run before an error allowed a second run to score. Leinani Lutu singled on the next at-bat, bringing Boone across home plate to put the Bucs ahead, 3-0.

The score stayed the same until the bottom of the fifth inning. Following a walk and a pair of fielder’s choices which placed runners on first and second, Kaytlin Greenwood doubled to left center, scoring Abbi Campbell and Addison Lucier, cutting the score to 3-2. After that, the Terriers loaded the bases following a pair of walks and a fielder’s choice.

With the bases juiced, first-team all-conference selection Desirae Devine delivered a double to the left center gap, clearing the bags and making the score 5-3 in favor of Wofford.

In the next half inning, ETSU cut the lead in half. Riley Martens began the frame with a double and a single from Maddison Stowell placed runners on the corners. After that, Hailey Porter, an all-freshman team selection, hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Martens to make the score 5-4. However, a strikeout and a fielder’s choice out ended the frame following the run.

In the seventh inning, Lutu hit a one-out double and advanced to third base on a groundout. Wofford pitcher Abby Greenwood then forced a popout, ending the inning and the game.

Greenwood (14-6) went the distance inside the circle, logging her 14^th complete game of the season.

Lucier was 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Terriers at the plate. Lutu and Martens both had a pair of hits for the Buccaneers.

No. 5 Chattanooga 7, No. 3 Western Carolina 6
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – No. 5 seed Chattanooga won a thriller over No. 3 seed Western Carolina, 7-6, in the final game of day two at the 2026 SoCon Softball Championship presented by Chattanooga Tourism Company at Frost Stadium on Friday.

The Mocs overcame a three-run deficit in the game’s final inning to advance. Chattanooga (24-28-1) will now play in Saturday’s 1 p.m. game versus No. 4 seed Wofford, which will be an elimination game. Western Carolina ends its season at 34-24.

Chattanooga scored the first runs of the game on one swing of the bat. Following singles from Ava Cowart and Annika Segedi, Baileigh Pitts crushed the first pitch she saw over the left field fence. The Mocs led 3-0 after three innings of play.

Western Carolina took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Sydnee Bumgarner came in as a pinch hitter and drew a leadoff walk, which was followed by a single from Lily Bell.

After the runners advanced to scoring position, Maya McPherson reached on an error as Courtney Marks, who re-entered the game for Bumgarner, and Bell crossed home plate on the play. Tate Stewman stepped into the batter’s box after that and hit a home run to right field, scoring two runs and putting the Catamounts ahead 4-3.

In the sixth inning, Western Carolina extended its lead to 6-3. After three singles loaded the bases, Taylor Waitley drew a walk. Two batters later, McPherson also drew a bases-loaded walk, setting the stage for the dramatic final frame.

Raven Jones doubled to begin the inning. Following an error and a single by Cowart, the Mocs had the bases loaded with zero outs. Abi Bunt got an RBI infield single during the next at-bat, closing the gap to two runs. Pitts followed with an RBI single of her own, making the score 6-5.

On the next at-bat, Mia Leone hit a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing Cowart in to score and tying the game at 6-6. Following a walk to reload the bases, Chloe Lackey singled through the left side, scoring Segedi and completing the rally.

Taylor Long, who threw 192 pitches, tossed her 16^th complete game of the season. She finished with 11 strikeouts and surrendered just two earned runs.

Pitts was 4-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Cowart and Jones both had two hits for the Mocs. Bell led the Catamounts at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

2026 SoCon Softball Championship
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Thursday, May 7
Game 1: No. 5 Chattanooga 10, No. 8 Furman 3
Game 2: No. 6 ETSU 7, No. 7 Mercer 0
Game 3: No. 4 Wofford 2, No. 5 Chattanooga 0
Game 4: No. 3 Western Carolina 2, No. 6 ETSU 1

 
Friday, May 8
Game 5: No. 1 UNCG 19, No. 4 Wofford 4
Game 6: No. 2 Samford 14, No. 3 Western Carolina 1
Game 7: No. 4 Wofford 5, No. 6 ETSU 4
Game 8: No. 5 Chattanooga 7, No. 3 Western Carolina 6

Saturday, May 9
Game 9: No. 1 UNCG vs. No. 2 Samford, 10 a.m.
Game 10: No. 4 Wofford vs. No. 5 Chattanooga, 1 p.m.
Game 11: Game 10 winner vs. Game 9 loser, 4 p.m.
 
Sunday, May 10

Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 10 a.m.
Game 13 (if necessary): Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 12