Troy University Athletics
Trojans Rally To Split Games
2/20/2009 6:00:00 AM | Softball
The Troy Trojans softball team played two games on the opening day of the USC Gamecock Invitational. The Trojans fell to Virginia in the first game 7-1, but in game two the Trojans rallied in extra innings to defeat Sacred Heart 6-5.
The Trojans needed to gain some quick momentum against Sacred Heart after the Virginia game.
Troy got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning with two runs. Kaitlin Kenney got things started with a triple, and a Heidi Johnson single scored the run. Johnson scored off of an error, and Troy led 2-0.
Sacred Heart came out in their next at bat and tied things up when they added two runs of their own.
The score stayed tied until the ninth inning when a Sacred Heart triple with the bases loaded scored three runs. The Pioneers led by three, and the Trojans had to at least tie the game to continue.
Troy came out and won the game.
"We believed that they could hit the ball and produce runs for us," Davis said. "We needed to take advantage of the tie-breaker with the runner on second, and they needed to swing the bats and let it take care of itself. Fortunately it all worked out."
Kenney was the runner placed on second for the international tie-breaker rule, and Johnson immediately moved her to third with a single. Nikki Hollett reached first on a fielders choice. Ashley Adkins came on to pinch run for Hollett, and a Rocky Paige double sent Johnson and Adkins home. Tasha Elmore reached first base on an error, and Paige scored the winning run.
"Rocky Paige has been a three year starter for us, and she is one of our leaders both on and off the field," Davis said. "She has not been swinging the bat the way she wants to, and it was really big for her to come through with the double to tie the game."
Allison Moore started the game and pitched five innings. Moore held the Pioneers to two hits and two runs with six strikeouts. Ashlyn Williams pitched the last four innings also giving up two hits and three runs. Williams struck out nine.
"I was really pleased with them," Davis said. "A lot of teams would have folded in that situation."
Virginia got things rolling early when Giannina Cipolloni hit a solo shot home run over the center field wall. The Cavaliers led 1-0, and after two walks given up by starting pitcher Ashlyn Williams plus a base hit from Virginia the bases were loaded. Williams struck out the next batter, and Heidi Johnson caught a pop fly to center field for out number three. The Trojans worked their way out of a bases loaded situation, and managed to only give up the lone run.
Virginia pushed in two more runs in the top of the second, and the Trojans only run scored in the bottom of the third.
Heidi Johnson doubled and scored Hillary Hughes from second base to get the Trojans on the board.
The Cavaliers didn't hesitate to answer, and punched in three more runs in their next at bat. Virginia also added another run in the top of the sixth leading to the final score.
Williams started the game on the mound for the Trojans. Williams pitched 5.2 innings, giving up seven hits and runs. Williams walked five and struck out seven.
Moore finished the game on the mound giving up one hit and striking out four in five batters faced.
