Walk-Off Homer, Errors Doom Trojans

MOBILE, Ala. ? Krista Rodden hammered a 1-1, eighth inning pitch off the South Alabama scoreboard to help the Jaguars defeat Troy 4-2 in extra innings on Saturday night at Jaguar Field.

After a leadoff single to the start the bottom of the seventh inning, Troy pitcher Ashlyn Williams induced a popup and a fly out for the first two outs.

But after a dropped third strike that would have been out three, catcher Hillary Hughes threw the ball away past first baseman Katie Taber into the right field corner allowing pinch runner Kelsy Donaldson to score from first and tie the game at two.

Williams (7.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 11 K; now 25-13) was charged with her 13^th loss of 2008. The loss negates Williams' sixth double-digit strikeout game of the season.

Troy started the scoring when Hughes drove in pinch runner Katie Kolb to give Troy an early second inning lead, 1-0.

Through two innings, Hughes had thrown out two potential base stealers, getting Troy out of two potentially dangerous situations.

South Alabama bounced back in the bottom of the third inning, tying things at one on an Evelyn Pare RBI double, but Williams struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.

Courtney Davis led-off the top of the fifth inning with a pop to rightfield that USA rightfielder Courtney Chigaros lost in the sun, resulting in Davis picking up a double.

Davis (2-for-3) was the only Trojans to finish with multiple hits, as Troy collected only four base knocks.

Pinch-runner Anna Tew then moved to third on a Hughes sac fly to the fence in centerfield.

Next, Taber put down a bunt that died in front of home plate to score Tew. Taber was also safe at first on the play giving Troy a 2-1 lead.

Pare reached on an error by second baseman Courtney Davis then was called save on a controversial stolen base before Chigaros walked to give the Jaguars two-on with one out in the fifth.

Williams got Autumn Hudson swinging and Donaldson to pop out to shortstop to escape unscathed with Troy still leading 2-1.

Troy put two more runners on base in the top of the seventh inning after a Davis single and an error USA third baseman Taylor Rich, but Taber hit into a fielder's choice for the second out.

Next, pinch hitter Cassie Lassiter singled to leftfield but Kaitlin Kenney slapped the ball back up the middle off the pitcher to second baseman Krista Rodden for the third out with Troy stranding the bases loaded.

Troy and South Alabama will square off in a Sunday doubleheader starting at 11 am at Jaguar Field. Live stats will be available at TroyTrojans.com.

Troy University Athletics

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