Troy University Athletics
Troy Splits With FAU To Win Share Of A-Sun Championship
4/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Troy University split a doubleheader with Florida Atlantic to clinch at least a share of the Atlantic Sun regular season championship on Friday at the Owls' softball complex. The Owls won game one 8-3 on the bats of Pam Mazzarella and Jessica Braggins. Troy used a three-run bomb by Caurie Miller to take game two 3-2.
Troy started the scoring early in game one when senior catcher Tamra Howren blasted a home run to right field to score sophomore Stacey Dwyer who reached on a fielder's choice. It was Howren's 18th homer of the season and it gave the Trojans a 2-0 after the top half of the first.
FAU struck back in the bottom of the third when Mazzarella singled to drive in a run. The Owls had runners on the corners when McCallum struck out Braggins to end the inning and get out of the jam. After three complete innings the Trojans held a 2-1 lead.
The Owls tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth on a Lauren Crandall double to left. Crandall drove in Jenn Piazza to make the score even at two. FAU loaded the bases after that but McCallum was able to get out of another jam.
Mazzarella then broke the tie at two with a solo shot to center field to give the owls a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth. In the bottom of the sixth the Owls scored another run on a bases loaded single by Mazzarella who drove in her third RBI with the hit.
While still in the fifth inning with the bases still loaded Braggins hit a grand slam to left-center to give FAU an 8-2 lead. McCallum was then relieved by sophomore Michelle Grinage who then retired the next two FAU batters to get out of the inning. McCallum gave up a season-high eight runs on 11 hits in five and one-thirds innings.
Troy added another run in the top of the when senior Bonnie Belin singled to center and then was brought home on a Brittany Krbec double to right-center. Troy couldn't manage to add anymore runs and fell to the Owls 8-3.
The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Trojans who fell to 39-17 on the season overall and 15-2 in the A-Sun. McCallum moved to 16-7 with the loss.
It was FAU who opened the scoring in game two when the Owls' Jessica Sachs hit a solo shot to right-center. The home run was Sachs' second of the year and it gave the Owls a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
The Owls added another run in the bottom of the third when Danielle Arriaga singled to right to drive in Sachs who had reached base on a bunt. Arriaga tried to make second on the play and was thrown out at second by Stacey Dwyer. After three complete innings the Owls held a 2-0 lead.
Troy took the lead in the top of the sixth inning on a Caurie Miller home run with two outs to straightaway center with two runners on. Junior Sally Jones reached on an error by the FAU shortstop and sophomore Brooke Powell walked to put two runners on to set up Miller. It was Miller's fifth home run of the season.
Miller's blast would be all that the Trojans needed as they took game two 3-2. Senior Kacie Flinn got the start from the circle going seven complete innings and striking out three. With the win Flinn improved her record to 18-7.
With the victory Troy improved its overall record to 40-17 overall and 16-2 in A-Sun play. The win gives the trojans a share of the A-Sun regular season championship and if the Trojans win at least one game against Central Florida on Sunday Troy will win the championship outright. The doubleheader with UCF will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Golden Knights' softball field.
-TROJANS-
