Troy's Tournament Ends in Marathon

TROY ? Katya Mueller sprinted home on a fielder's choice and Mariza Martinez scored on a sacrifice fly to put North Texas up 4-2 in the 13^th inning and eliminate the Troy Trojan softball team from the 2008 SBC Softball Championship in Troy, Ala.

Troy (33-23) was unable to produce any offense in the bottom of the 13^th, stranding a base runner at both first and second.

"I hate it for the seniors who were playing their last game. We fought a hard battle after falling behind and tying the game twice, but we couldn't catch a break," head coach Melanie Davis said.

"We were facing an all-conference shortstop and no one else in the league could have made a couple of the plays she made."

While the Trojans did not come out on top, freshman Ashlyn Williams did provide several high points. Williams recorded 19 strikeouts to set a new career-high breaking her previous record of 12 she recorded against Florida State and Stephen F. Austin earlier this season.

The 19 strikeouts sets a Sun Belt Conference tournament record and ties the Troy record set by Jocelyn McCallum in 2005 against Belmont. She also tossed a career-high 13.0 innings.

"Ashlyn had a great game for us. It's maybe the most dominant she's been all season," Davis said.

North Texas (27-32) alternated fly outs with bunt singles before Williams hit Waters to load the bases with two outs in the top of the first inning.

Felicia Hammer, making her first start at catcher since April 10^th against No. 2 Alabama, allowed a passed ball to get past her and give the Mean Green a 1-0 lead.

Kaitlin Kenney drew a lead-off walk for the Trojans and moved to second base on a Jessica Lyle groundout. Hillary Hughes roped a single over the head of NT centerfielder Mariza Martinez, but Hughes was gunned out at second with Kenney crossing the plate to knot things at one.

Courtney Bradshaw line the first pitch she saw from Williams over the left field fence to put the Mean Green back on top 2-1 in the second inning. The freshman lefthander battled back to induce a flyout and back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the inning.

Rocky Paige led-off the Troy half of the second inning with a single past third base, she advanced to second after Davis grounded out to first base. Mean Green starter Jennifer Smith then hit Tanya McLean giving Troy two-on with one out.

Hammer made-up for her first inning miscue next with an RBI single up the middle to tie things at two. A strikeout and a flyout ended things for the Trojans with two on.

Fowler picked up her second hit of the day with a double to left centerfield with two outs in the fourth inning, but Williams got Fowler swinging to end the inning with the score still tied at two.

Following back-to-back strikeouts to start the inning, Williams walked Rebecca Waters and surrendered a single to Heather Bostic to put two on for Bradshaw with two outs. But alertly Hammer picked off pinch runner Renae Bromley at second base to get her squad out of the jam still tied at two.

Troy started the sixth inning strong with a Davis double to left field and single to shallow left by McLean that resulted in Troy having runners on the corners with no outs. North Texas opted for the intentional walk of Hammer to load the bases for Moore.

Davis and Hammer both finished with two hits for Troy. Johnson finished with three walks. Hughes and Hammer had the only RBI's.

Moore couldn't capitalize, striking out on four pitches, then Kenney grounded back to the second baseman Waters who came home to get pinch runner Katie Kolb at home and Lyle flyed out center as Troy stranded the bases loaded.

The Trojans must now wait and hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The field of 64 teams will be announced on Sunday afternoon.

Troy University Athletics

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