Troy University Athletics
Troy Loses Extra Inning Heartbreaker
5/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MIAMI, Fla. - Extra innings games have become routine for Troy in 2006 and on Sunday at FIU the Trojans went ten innings but were unable to come up with a win as they lost 4-3.
With the bases loaded and two outs, junior Laine Harcourt walked FIU's (28-26, 11-4 SBC) - to score the final run and clinch the win.
This is Troy's 13th extra inning game this season and its fifth conference game that has gone past regulation. Troy is now 2-11 in extra innings and 0-5 in conference extra inning games this season.
This game also marked the 23rd time that the Trojans have played a one-run game this season. Each game in the series with FIU has been decided by one run and Troy is now 6-17 in one-run games.
Errors hurt the Trojans again on Sunday as it committed four errors and two of the Golden Panthers four runs were unearned.
In addition to having four errors, Troy also left 15 runners on base and the bases loaded three times in ten innings.
The game went into extra innings after FIU scored on an error in the fifth and neither team was able to score a run. Troy had an opportunity in the seventh to break the tie with runners at first and second and two outs but were unable to bring anyone home.
FIU started the scoring in the first when Tabitha Embry hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield which scored Tracey Deleon from third. Then Kim Rodriguez single to left field brining in Desiree Fink from third, 2-0 Golden Panthers.
Freshman Heidi Johnson hit a three-run home run in the fourth to give Troy a one run lead over FIU. Johnson's ninth home run of the season scored junior Amanda Ragans, pinch running for junior Brittany Krbec, and sophomore Jessica Lyle, who was hit by a pitch. Johnson's home run also sealed her name in the record books as she broke the school record for home runs by a freshman.
The Golden Panthers tied the score in the fifth when Lyle threw wild to junior Brooke Powell covering first after a bunt by Fink and Cassie Parker scored from second on the play.
Junior Laine Harcourt (15-20) took the loss in the circle for Troy as she went nine point one innings allowed four runs, two earned on four hits.
The Trojans will play on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. EDT against Middle Tennessee in game two of the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at the University Park Softball Field on the campus of FIU.
