Troy University Athletics
Trojans Drop Two Close Ones
4/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Troy played its longest game of the season on Saturday against Middle Tennessee as game two of the doubleheader went 13 innings, tied four times and ended with Troy on the losing end, 8-6. Troy also dropped the first game 1-0.
Heading into the bottom of the 13th Troy (25-32, 3-5 SBC) had a one run lead but was unable to hang onto it as Middle Tennessee (17-31-1, 5-3 SBC) scored two runs on a double by Muriel Ledbetter to centerfield, clinching the win.
Junior Amanda Ragans singled to the right field which brought in junior Brooke Powell from third to give Troy a one run lead in the 13th.
Sophomore Caurie Miller singled scoring junior Angie Coteat and broke the tie again in the top of the 12th when she singled in Coteat to give Troy a one run lead, 5-4.
The Blue Raiders pulled it together and tied the game for the third time in the 12th on a misplayed steal. Katie Mielke was on third and scored on a throwing error home by Miller to tie the game at five. Miller was trying to throw to freshman catcher Felicia Hammer to get the runner attempting to steal home out.
Troy broke the tie in the tenth when freshman Heidi Johnson scored on a bunt by Miller.
Johnson was place on second to start the tenth inning in accordance with the international tie-breaker rule. The Sun Belt conference enacts the rule in the tenth inning for conference games.
Middle Tennessee rallied again in the tenth when Sam Floyd singled scoring Katie Mielke from third to tie the game at four.Middle Tennessee forced extra innings when it scored the tying run in the bottom of the seventh. The Blue Raiders tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Justine Cerda to bring in Kristine Reed, who reached base on a single.
The run was unearned because Reed made it to third base on a passed ball.
Troy rebounded from the loss in game one and put runs on the board early in game two. In the third, Blue Raider pitcher Trish White walked freshman Felicia Hammer and junior Amanda Ragans. Then junior Angie Coteat reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Johnson singled scoring Hammer and Ragans to take the lead, 2-0.
Johnson ended the game one for three with two RBIs and scored one run.
Troy extended its lead in the sixth when junior Brooke Powell singled scoring Miller from third, 3-0.
Powell went one for three with an RBI in game two.
Middle Tennessee rallied in the bottom of the sixth to get to within one run when Melissa Weiland hit a two-run home run, 3-2 Troy. Davis' home run also scored Martha Davis, who was hit by a pitch to reach base.
Sophomore Angela Lopez pitched a no-hitter through the fifth when she gave up a single to Kristine Reed. Lopez (10-10) took the loss as she allowed eight runs on 10 hits but only four were earned.
The Trojans lost game one, 1-0 as they were unable to score runs leaving a total of six on base.
With the game scoreless through six innings, Weiland hit a solo home run to give the Blue Raiders the lead and the win. Troy had a total of six hits in the game and while Middle Tennessee only had four hits and left four on base the solo home run proved to be enough for the win.
Krbec and Coteat each hit doubles as they went one for two. Junior Laine Harcourt (13-17) took the loss on the mound for Troy as she pitched six innings allowing one run on four hits.
The first pitch on Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Blue Raider Field. Live stats will be available on www.troytrojans.com as provided by Middle Tennessee.
