Troy University Athletics
TROY Goes 1-3 At the Buzz Classic
3/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MARIETTA, Ga. - The Troy University Softball Team competed in the 2005 Georgia Tech Buzz Classic this past weekend going 1-3 in games versus Virginia Tech, Florida A&M, St. Francis, and Mississippi State. The Trojans went extra innings with Va. Tech and FAMU but they were unable finish the two teams off falling to the Hokies 4-3 and the Lady Rattlers 11-10.
Against the Hokies Troy fell behind in the bottom of the fourth on a Kelsey Hoffman two-run home run. Troy took the lead in the top of the sixth when sophomore Sally Jones singled to the gap in right to bring home fellow sophomore Tara Blackwell. Senior Jenny Boyd then singled to score Bonnie Belin and Jones to give Troy a 3-2 lead after six.
Virginia Tech would not go down without a fight and tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly to send the game to extra innings. Tech then won the game in the bottom of the eighth when the Hokies Caroline Stolle singled to drive in the winning run.
Trojan pitchers Jocelyn McCallum, Laine Harcourt, and Kacie Flinn combined to strikeout 12 Hokie batters giving up seven hits and four runs. Flinn was credited with the loss as she was pitching when Va. Tech scored the go-ahead runs.
Troy would go extra innings with Florida A&M as well. Troy trailed the Lady Rattlers 9-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh. With two outs the Trojans began a five-run rally when Sally Jones hit a solo shot to leftfield to cut the lead to four. Tara Blackwell then singled to score freshman Caurie Miller to cut the lead to three. Senior Tamra Howren then tied the game up on a three-run blast to centerfield that brought home Boyd and Blackwell. In the inning the Trojans posted five runs on four hits to to tie the Lady Rattlers 9-9.
Each team added runs in the eighth inning but the Trojans were unable to add a run in the ninth after FAMU did and Troy fell in nine to the Lady Rattlers 11-10. Laine Harcourt was credited with the loss as she gave up four runs in four and two-thirds innings pitched with only two of the runs being earned.
I'm really proud of how our team kept fighting throughout both games,” said Troy Head Coach Melanie Davis. They would not give up even when down a lot of runs. It's disappointing to lose but this team showed what it is made of in coming back the way they did.”
Troy got back into the win column in its third game of the Buzz Classic as it defeated St. Francis University of Pennsylvania 16-2. The Trojans scored the 16 runs on 15 hits with 11 of the runs coming in the first inning. Sophomore Brooke Powell hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second. Pitcher Laine Harcourt got the win as the game went only five innings.
The Trojans faced the Bulldogs of Mississippi State for the second time this season. Troy opened up the scoring in the game in the top of the second when Bonnie Belin scored on a wild pitch. The Bulldogs responded quickly as it posted six runs in the bottom of the third.
Troy came back to tie the game in the top of the fifth to give each team six runs apiece. Tamra Howren hit her second home run of the tournament and Brooke Powell hit her second grand slam of the tournament. However the Trojans couldn't contain the MSU offense in the bottom of the sixth as the Bulldogs posted another six runs to give them a 12-6 lead. That would be the final as the Trojans fell to the Bulldogs and were eliminated from bracket play.
The Trojans now stand at 14-8 overall with St. Joseph's and UAB coming to town this week. Troy will face St. Joseph's on Tuesday and UAB on Wednesday. Both meetings will be double headers at the Lady Trojan Softball Complex.
