Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Samford
Trojan Bats Come to Life in 9-6 Win
3/1/2010 2:15:00 AM | Softball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Troy Trojans softball team's bats came to life as Troy matched their highest run total of the season in a 9-6 victory over host Samford at the Magic City Classic.
Kala Moore led the Trojans with three hits and two runs scored. Hayden Gann also had a good day with 3 RBI and two runs scored.
Troy (9-4) got on the board early, as they sent nine hitters to the plate in the top of the first inning, plating three runs. Moore led off with a single to right field. After she stole second base, a sacrifice bunt moved her to third.
A squeeze bunt by Gann plated Moore from third as the throw home wasn't in time to get the speedy shortstop. With Gann at first base, a single up the middle by Rocky Paige put runners on first and second. Next up was Courtney Cherry who was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Another hit batter, this time Belinda White, got the carousel moving and plated another run. After a fielder's choice by Sally Ward retired Paige at home, Nikki Hollett drew a walk to score Troy's third run.
Samford (5-5) would get all three plus two more back in the bottom of the inning as they sent 11 batters to the plate. Troy starter Haley Hutchins gave up two hits, a walk, a hit batter and was pulled with two outs in the inning and Troy ahead 3-2.
Ashlyn Williams came on to pitch and gave two hits that plated two more runs, both of them charged to Haley Hutchins. With the bases loaded and Troy down 4-3, Samford's leadoff batter beat out an infield hit to score the Bulldogs fifth run. After a pop out to left field ended the inning, the Bulldogs had connected on five hits and scored five runs, all with two outs.
Troy would put up a two spot in the second to tie things up at 5-5. Kaitlin Kenney got things started with a one out double. Next, Gann grounded to the third baseman who was unable to retire anyone. Paige followed with another fielder's choice in which the Bulldogs couldn't retire a Trojan.
With the bases loaded and one out, Cherry grounded out to the shortstop, but plated Kenney from third. White followed with an RBI single up the middle to plate the tying run.
Troy would go ahead with two runs in the third off of three hits. A one out walk to Kortney Cooper followed by singles from Moore and Kenney loaded the bases. Next up was Hayden Gann who lifted a single to the gap in right center to plate two runs, putting the Trojans ahead, 7-5.
Troy added a couple of insurance runs in the sixth, making the score 9-5. Paige started things off with a one out double. After Ashley Adkins ran for Paige, Cherry reached on error by the Samford first baseman, advancing Adkins to third. After Cherry stole second, a passed ball allowed Adkins to score and Cherry to move to third. After a ground out by White, a wild pitch allowed Cherry to score Troy's ninth run.
Samford added a single run in the seventh off of a solo home run.
Other than that one run, Williams did her job and shut down the Bulldogs after the first inning. She picked up the win, tying the school record for wins in a career. Williams gave up just two runs on six hits and struck out six.
The Trojans will be back in action on Tuesday when they open up Sun Belt play at home against Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders will come into town for a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Trojan Softball Complex. The third game of the series will be played at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
