GREEN BAY, Wis. – Winners of six of their last seven, the Green Bay softball team enters this weekend with a chance to clinch at least a top-four spot in the Horizon League and potentially host the conference tournament. The Phoenix will have to get past Detroit Mercy first, with three games scheduled for Friday through Saturday.
SETTING UP THE SERIES
Green Bay vs. Detroit Mercy
When: Friday, May 5 – Saturday, May 6
Where: Green Bay, Wis. | King Park
First Pitch: 3:00 p.m. (Friday) | 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. (Saturday)
Series history: Phoenix leads 44-27
Follow the action: Live Stats | History
HORIZON LEAGUE STANDINGS
UPCOMING SCHEDULE - HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
Horizon League Tournament | May 10-13 | Host: TBD | Tournament Information
Green Bay is one of three teams eligible to host the 2023 Horizon League Championship from May 10-13. The other two teams in the running are Cleveland State and Youngstown State. Whoever finishes highest in the standings out of those three will serve as the tournament's host. Cleveland State currently sits half a game above GB.
LAST MATCHUP
The Green Bay softball team stayed hot on Saturday, adding three wins to their season total with a three-game sweep over Purdue Fort Wayne.
The Phoenix has now won six straight Horizon League games to put themselves within a prime position to grab a top-six spot and earn their way to the Horizon League Championship.
TIFF AT THE TOP
Tiffany Giese continues to be one of the best leadoff hitters in the Horizon League. She pieced together a six-game hitting streak from March 16 to March 31, going 11-for-17 (.647). Giese has swiped 19 bases in 20 attempts this season. Her batting average (.340) leads the squad and is sixth in the HL. She also broke Green Bay's all-time stolen bases record last season and etched her name into the record book again twice this season, becoming the all-time at-bats leader and hits leader in program history. The hits record was previously set by Katie Cooney from 2007-2011 when she racked up 168 hits in four years. Entering the PFW series, Giese has 182 career hits.
CAN'T HANDLE HANSON
Paige Hanson has been a crucial part of Green Bay's lineup this season, posting GB's second-highest batting average (.311). One of eight true freshmen and 10 total newcomers, her 38 hits and 18 RBIs rank third on the team.
DOUBLE B
Brittany Baneck is one of the most dominant pitchers in the conference. She boasts a team-best 2.83 ERA, which ranks fifth in the Horizon League. Opponents are hitting just .247 off Baneck, best for the fifth-lowest mark in the HL. A native of Green Bay and a Green Bay Preble High School graduate, Baneck has tossed 10 complete games, surrendering just 50 earned runs in 123.2 innings of work.
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 Freshmen
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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