Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Florida A&M
Wiliiams Throws No-Hitter Against UCF
2/21/2010 2:30:00 AM | Softball
ORLANDO,
Fla. - Ashlyn Williams threw a
no-hitter as the Trojans defeated the host Golden Knights 1-0 at the UCF
Invitational. In their second game, the Trojans suffered their first loss of the season, falling to Florida A&M, 5-4 on a seventh inning walk off single.
GAME ONE
The Trojans (5-0) blanked the host UCF (4-4) Golden Knights on the strength of a no-hitter by Ashlyn Williams. Williams struck out 11 batters with no walks. The no-hitter was the first by a Trojan since March 31, 2007 when Angela Lopez shut down WKU.
"My pitches were on and I kept my movement throughout the game," Williams said.
The Trojans became the only undefeated team in the tournament.
"It's extremely exciting to see Ashlyn finish the no-hitter," head coach Melanie Davis said. "UCF is a quality program and they have wins over Tennessee and South Carolina this year."
"When she struck out the side in the first inning, I knew she had her stuff," Davis added.
Belinda White led the Trojans at the plate going to 2-for-4 with an RBI.
After a scoreless first four innings in which Williams struck out eight Golden Knights, the Trojans got on the board first in the top of the fifth with a two out rally.
Kala Moore reached on an infield single, and then stole second. The swipe was the 90th of her career, setting the school record held by Tara Michel. Belinda White followed with a single just over the second baseman's glove, plating Moore and giving the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
Williams struck out two more in the fifth and sixth. Courtney Cherry made a diving catch on a line drive in the seventh that would've been a hit. Williams struck out the next batter and the final out was recorded on a grounder to Cherry at third.
The Trojans (5-1) dropped their first game of the 2010 season,
falling to the Florida A&M (2-3) Rattlers, 5-4.
The Trojans left 10 runners on base in the game. Haley Hutchins started for the Trojans. Ashlyn Williams came on in fourth inning and
received her first loss. She threw three
innings, surrendering three hits and just the one winning run. Hayden Gann led the Trojans at the plate, going 2-for-3 with
a double and a walk. Kala Moore and
Belinda White each drove in runs. Florida A&M got on the board first with a three spot in
bottom of the third inning. The Rattlers
benefited from a Trojans passed ball, wild pitch and a sacrifice fly to plate
their three runs. Troy
would get two of the runs back in the top of the fourth inning. Hits by Rocky Paige, Courtney Cherry and
Kortney Cooper had the bases loaded with one out. Kala Moore drew a walk to plate the Trojans
first run. A wild pitch brought in
another, pulling the Trojans within one at 3-2. Troy starter Haley Hutchins would get in some more trouble
in the fourth. A single, followed by a
passed ball and a walk chased Hutchins and brought Ashlyn Williams back to the
circle. A bloop single to left field plated a run from second that
was charged to Hutchins. Hutchins' final
line was 3.1 innings with three hits, four runs and two earned. Troy
threatened to close the two run gap in the top of the fifth, but Hayden Gann
was stranded after a leadoff double. The Trojans tied the score up at 4-4 with two runs in the
top of the sixth. Kaitlin Kenney drew a
leadoff walk. A wild pitch moved her to
second and a Kala Moore infield single put runners on the corners with one out. Moore
stole second and Belinda White launched a sac fly to left field to plate
Kenney. With Moore on third, Nikki Hollett grounded to the shortstop but a dropped ball by the first baseman made
Hollett safe and Moore
scored the tying run. The score remained tied at 4-4 when the Rattlers came to bat
in the bottom of the seventh. Florida
A&M led off with a bloop single to center and followed it with a dribbler
to Williams who had no play at either base. After Williams struck out a Rattler for the first out, a
wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. An intentional walk loaded
the bases, and a single to left ended the game with Florida A&M winning
5-4. The Trojans will be back in action when they take on South Carolina at 10:00
a.m. CT on Sunday to close out the UCF Invitational.
GAME TWO
