Defense Dooms Trojans on Saturday

TROY ? The Troy Trojan softball team committed six errors in two games as they fell to Louisiana Lafayette 4-2 and 4-0 in Sun Belt Conference action at the Troy Softball Complex.

Three errors in game one allowed two unearned runs and three errors in game two allowed three unearned runs.

Our pitchers continued to do their job, but our defense didn't and you have to give Louisiana credit for their tremendous speed,” head coach Melanie Davis said.

Both games scores do not accurately reflect how close both contests were. Troy trailed just 3-2 until the top of the sixth inning and squandered multiple tying chances in game one and in game two the Trojans allowed three unearned runs in the sixth inning to push a 1-0 lead to 4-0.

“Both contests were closer than they looked and I'm never happy with falling short, but there were a lot of good things that happened today,” Davis said.

“We out-hit them in game two, which is something not many teams in our conference can say they accomplished.”

In game one Troy (30-20, 12-8 SBC) stranded eight base runners, en route to scoring just two runs. Kaitlin Kenney and Katie Taber both had RBI's for the Trojans.

Hillary Hughes had two hits and Heidi Johnson added her 21^st stolen base of the season.

Ashlyn Williams (now 25-12) started game one and tossed her 23^rd complete game, allowing just two earned runs and striking out two with one walk.

Game two saw Troy again fail to pick up timely hits as they stranded nine more, out-hitting the Ragin' Cajuns in a losing effort.

Rocky Paige (3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 6 BB; now 1-4) got the start on the mound and also picked up two hits, but Troy failed to push any runs across the plate.

Troy had a chance to tie things in the bottom of the fifth, but Cajuns centerfielder Karlie Hubbard robbed Lyle of a sure-fire double with a diving catch, ending the inning and stopping at least one run from scoring.

“It's a game of inches and you have to give credit to their centerfielder who made a Sportscenter catch to save the lead in the second game,” Davis said.

Williams pitched two and a third innings of relief, striking out three and walking none.

The biggest strike out being a bases loaded strikeout of Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Holly Tankersley. The strikeout was just the eighth of the season for the senior Tankersley.

Cassie Lassiter pitched a perfect seventh inning out of the bullpen to finish the game.

Troy and ULL will play the final game of their three-game series on Sunday, which will serve as Senior Day for three Trojans. They will be honored in a pregame ceremony kicking-off at 12:45.

First pitch for Sunday's game is set for 1 pm and it will available over the airwaves on 94.7 WTBF. Admission to all home softball games is free.

Troy University Athletics

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