Trojans Open Weekend with Two Wins

Friday, February 19

Orlando, Fla.

5:00 p.m.

Troy University

North Florida

2/20/2010 1:00:00 AM | Softball

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Trojans got their weekend off to a good start with a 4-2 victory over Villanova to start the UCF Invitational. They followed that performance with a 6-3 win over North Florida Friday night.

GAME ONE

Ashlyn Williams went the distance striking out nine and giving up five hits to earn her third win of the season. Rocky Paige went 1-for-3 with a homer and two RBI. Nikki Hollett drove in the Trojans other two runs on two singles.

The Trojans (3-0) got on the board first in the top of the second inning. After Sally Ward reached on a single, Paige hit the Trojans first home run of the season. The blast to left field gave Paige 12 dingers in her career, placing her in a tie for eighth place on Troy's career list.

The Wildcats would get both runs back in the bottom of the inning. Villanova (0-2) led the inning off with a walk and a single to place runners on the corners with no outs. The Trojans retired the next two batters, one on a fly out and a strikeout. However, a two out single plated both runs and the Wildcats pulled even at 2-2.

The Trojans pulled ahead in the top of third 3-2 with a single run. After Belinda White hit a one out double to left center, Hollett drove her in with a line singled down the left field line.

The Trojans loaded the bases in the fourth on two walks and a hit batter, but they were unable to score.

The Trojans retired the Wildcats quickly in the third, fourth and fifth, however they had to work in the sixth. A leadoff single, followed by a sac bunt, a single and a walk loaded the bases with one out. However, a strike out and a fly out to Kaitlin Kenney in center field squashed the Wildcats rally.

The Trojans were able to add an insurance run in the top of the seventh. After Sarah Shields grounded out to start the inning, Kala Moore beat out a bunt to the third basemen. After Moore stole her first base of the season to reach second, White grounded out to second, moving Moore to third. Courtney Cherry walked to put runners on the corners with two outs. Hollett singled to the right side to drive in her second run of the game and put the Trojans ahead 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh.

The Trojans retired three Wildcat batters in the seventh to close out the game.

GAME TWO

The Trojans (4-0) picked up their second win of the day, taking down the North Florida Ospreys, 6-3. The Trojans benefited from three Osprey errors, scoring five unearned runs.

Haley Hutchins started her first game as a Trojan and picked up the victory after pitching 4 1/3 innings and giving up three runs on four hits. Ashlyn Williams came in with the Trojans ahead 4-3 and grabbed the save.

Troy was led at the plate by Rocky Paige and Sally Ward who each went 2-for-3. Hayden Gann went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer.

North Florida (1-7) got on the board first in the Trojans' second game of the day. The Ospreys drew a leadoff walk off of Troy starter Hutchins. After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to second, and illegal pitch moved her to third. A fielder's choice by the next North Florida batter resulted in the first run of the game.

The Trojans got the run back in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a lead off double by Paige. Kaitlin Kenney dropped a sac bunt to advance pinch runner Ashley Adkins to third and an error allowed Kenney to reach herself. Kortney Cooper delivered with an infield single in her first collegiate at bat to plate the run.

After a sac bunt by Kala Moore and Belinda White reached on a fielder's choice, the Trojans were unable to score again and they left the base loaded for the second time in as many innings.

The Ospreys took the lead again in the third with one run off of a single, wild pitch and RBI double.

The Trojans scored three in the fourth to take the lead over the Ospreys, 4-2. Kala Moore started things off with a leadoff single to left field. Moore then stole second. The stolen base was the 89^th of her career, tying the Troy school record. A sac bunt by White moved Moore to third. After a walk to Courtney Cherry put runners on the corner, the Trojans attempted a double steal. The Ospreys catcher dropped the return throw to home, allowing Moore to score, tying the game at 2-2.

After Nikki Hollett struck out, Hayden Gann came to the plate and deposited the seventh pitch she saw over the left field fence, putting Troy on top 4-2.

The Ospreys would get a run back in the fifth. After a leadoff double fell just outside of the reach of Trojan left fielder Marcy Sartain, a single drove in the run to make the score 4-3. That run chased Hutchins and brought on Ashlyn Williams for Troy.

The Trojans extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth. After Cooper drew a one out walk, Moore grounded into the second out. White singled to center, advancing Cooper to third. A wild throw by the center fielder allowed Cooper to score and it allowed White to advance to third. White would then score on a passed ball, giving the Trojans a 6-3 lead.

The Trojans will be back in action at the UCF Invitational on Saturday when they take on host UCF at 5:00 p.m. CT and Florida A&M at 7:00 p.m. CT.