Trojans Sweep Ospreys to Open 2010

Tuesday, February 16

Jacksonville, Fla.

2:00 p.m.

Troy University

North Florida

2/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Trojans got things started off on the right foot by sweeping a doubleheader from the North Florida Ospreys in Jacksonville.

Ashlyn Williams struck out 23 batters in the two games. Hayden Gann posted four hits on the day and true freshman Courtney Cherry posted five RBI.

GAME ONE

The Trojans got the 2010 campaign off to a good start with a 6-4 victory over North Florida in the first game. Ashlyn Williams picked up where she left off in 2009 by striking out 15 Ospreys. Offensively, Courtney Cherry impressed in her first collegiate game, going 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI.

Nikki Hollett and Kala Moore also posted two hits for the Trojans. Rocky Paige and Hayden Gann each had a double.

After the Trojans left two one base in the top of the first inning, Ashlyn Williams cruised through the first two Ospreys striking both out swinging. However, North Florida pitcher Devyn Findley was able to give herself some help when she homered to left center in the bottom of the inning.

The Trojans got their first hit when Hayden Gann laced a double to left center. After Kaitlin Kenney dropped down a perfect bunt in front of the plate, that advanced Gann to third, the Trojans called a double steal. The play worked to perfection and the Trojans scratched across their first run.

The Trojans pulled ahead in the top of fifth inning. After Marcy Sartain was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning, a single by Kala Moore and a walk to Nikki Hollett, true freshman Courtney Cherry came up with two outs and the bases loaded. The rookie from Dothan, Ala. delivered with a double to clear the bases, but she was caught in a run down turning second.

The Ospreys responded with three runs of their own in bottom of the inning. They got things started with a leadoff triple followed by a walk. After a strikeout, North Florida first baseman Caroline Torre doubled to score both runs. Findley followed that with a single to score the tying run.

In the top of sixth, the Trojans were able to scratch across another run with a two out rally. With Gann already on first from a fielder's choice, pinch hitters Sarah Harris and Sally Ward each drew walks to load the bases. Moore then came up and slapped an infield single past the pitcher to score Gann from third.

Up 5-4 entering the seventh, the Trojans added an insurance run off of a leadoff double by Nikki Hollett and an RBI single by Cherry.

Ashlyn Williams went the distance and picked up the victory for the Trojans while Devyn Findley got the loss for North Florida.

GAME TWO

The Trojans needed extra innings in game two but they took care of the Ospreys and completed the two game sweep.

Hayden Gann led the Trojans at the plate going 3-for-3 with a triple. Sally Ward threw 2.1 innings without giving any runs and just two hits. Williams came on to relieve in the third and threw 5.2 innings, giving up one run and striking out eight batters.

The Trojans' bats struggled early in the game, posting just two hits in the first five innings, both coming off of Gann's bat. Troy's starting right fielder singled in the third and tripled in the fifth.

Fortunately the Trojans pitching duo of starter Sally Ward and reliever Ashlyn Williams held the Ospreys in check, until an unearned run came across in the bottom of the fifth.

The Trojans got the run back in the top of the sixth with some small ball. Kaitlin Kenney lead off with an infield single to third base. She advanced to second on a Moore groundout. Kenney then stole third and scored on an RBI single by Belinda White.

The Trojans got things started early with a Kenney infield single followed by a Moore line drive up the middle. White dropped down a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to second and third. Hollett hit into a fielder's choice to the shortstop who came to home plate with the throw. Kenney got in under the tag to out the Trojans ahead by one.

Courtney Cherry followed with a single in the hole between shortstop and third plating an insurance run.

The Trojans were able to hold the Ospreys in check in the bottom of the eighth to take the win.

The Trojans will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Orlando, Fla. this weekend for the UCF Invitational.

Be sure to check back in with TroyTrojans.com for more news and notes from the softball diamond, as well as all of Troy Athletics.