MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – This weekend the Green Bay softball team will play in their final tournament of the regular season at Middle Tennessee State. The MTSU Invitational will start for the Phoenix on Friday, March 10, and wrap up on Sunday, March 12. 

Before returning to Green Bay next week, GB will also take on Austin Peay on Monday, March 13, and Lipscomb on Wednesday, March 15.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Games 18-22
When: March 10-12
Where: Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Blue Raider Softball Field 
Follow the action: Live Stats

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Green Bay vs. Western Illinois – Friday, March 10, 9 a.m.
Green Bay at Middle Tennessee State – Friday, March 10, 4:30 p.m.
Green Bay vs. Southern Illinois – Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m.
Green Bay vs. Appalachian State – Saturday, March 11, 12:30 p.m.
Green Bay vs. Appalachian State – Sunday, March 12, 10 a.m.
Green Bay at Austin Peay – Monday, March 13, 3 p.m.
Green Bay at Lipscomb – Wednesday, March 15, 12 p.m.

FAST START FOR SALOUN
 Samantha Saloun is one of GB's best players through 17 games. The SPASH graduate currently leads (min. three ABs) the Phoenix in:

• Batting average (.349)
• OPS (1.011)
• Doubles (6)
• RBIs (10)
• Total bases (24)
• Slugging percentage (.558)
• On-base percentage (.453)

Saloun also has the third-highest OPS in the Horizon League.

SPEED KILLS
The Phoenix has been lethal on the basepaths, swiping 14 steals in 15 attempts. Jadin Justman and Tiffany Giese are 3-for-3, while Paige Hanson, Randi McKay, and Hailey Heckenlaible are 2-for-2. Kendal Herschbach and Kaylin Fahy have stolen one base each as well. Among all HL teams, the Phoenix has the best stolen base percentage and fourth-most total stolen bases in the league.

JUSTMAN AT THE PLATE
Jadin Justman continues to be one of the biggest offensive threats for the Phoenix. The junior from Horicon, Wisconsin, is hitting .292 and has started all 17 of GB's contests. She is responsible for one of Green Bay's four home runs and paces the Phoenix in runs scored (9). Among GB batters with at least three at-bats, she is second in on-base percentage (.393), trailing Saloun.

BEST OF BANECK
Brittany Baneck has been one of the best pitchers in the Horizon League so far this season. She holds just a 1.87 ERA, which is the third-best in the HL while also pitching the second-most innings in the league at 60.0. Baneck is 5-3 with one shutout on the year.

NEW PHOENIX FACES
 Green Bay officially welcomed Mary Bean as an assistant coach on January 25. The Phoenix also welcomes 10 newcomers to the squad in 2023.

Transfers
 Lauren Porter | U | So. | Harland, Wis. | Western Michigan
 Payton Brennan | U | Jr. | Hortonville, Wis. | Daytona State College

True Freshman
 Giana Sanchez | IF | Whiting, Ind. | Marist
 Viviana Guzman | P/OF | Waukegan, Ill. | Waukegan
 Kelly Greene | U | Palos Heights, Ill. | Alan B Shepard
 Paeton Kringel | P/U | New London, Wis. | New London
 Kaylin Fahy | U | Niles, Ill. | Maine South
 Kendal Herschbach | IF/OF | Lockport, Ill. | Lockport Township
 Paige Hanson | C/SS | Cottage Grove, Wis. | Monona Grove
 Aidyn Messmann | C/3B | Jefferson, Wis. | Jefferson

2023 #HLSB Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Oakland (8) – 77
2. RMU (1) – 68
3. Cleveland State – 61
4. Green Bay – 51
5. Youngstown State – 50
6. Northern Kentucky – 43
7. IUPUI – 22
8. Purdue Fort Wayne – 20
9. Detroit Mercy – 13

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