Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Loyola Marymount
Trojans Split on Day Two
3/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
HONOLULU, Hawaii - The Troy Trojans softball team defeated Loyola Marymount in their first game of the day, 10-2 to earn the three seed entering the playoffs at the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament. In their semifinal the Trojans fell to second seed Hawaii, 7-3.
Kala Moore led the Trojans (15-11) at the plate on the day, going a combined 6-for-8 with two runs scored and two RBI. Ashlyn Williams threw two complete games and struck out a total 21 batters.
GAME ONE
"We've been falling short on this long trip. With one-run losses to Mississippi State and Hawaii, plus we had the lead late against DePaul yesterday, it was great to see the girls fight through adversity," said head coach Melanie Davis. "They just refused to lose today."
Kala Moore led the Trojans in the victory, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and three stolen bases. Rocky Paige and Belinda White each had two hits, with Paige and Hayden Gann each posting two RBI.
"A senior four-year starter in Kala Moore said it best when she said this was a complete performance," Davis said.
Ashlyn Williams started the game and went the distance for the Trojans, striking out 13 and giving up just two runs on five hits.
The Lions got the board first with a solo home run in the top of the second.
Troy (15-10) would respond in the bottom of the inning, plating one run to tie the score at 1-1. Courtney Cherry led off the inning with a walk and was moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Harris. After a Nikki Hollett placed runners on the corners with one out, Belinda White delivered with an RBI single through the left side to plate Cherry from third.
The Trojans would take control of the game in the third inning, posting a five spot to make the score 6-1. Kala Moore got things started with a single up the middle. The Trojans catalyst was just that as she stole second base then advanced to third on an illegal pitch. Kaitlin Kenney put the Trojans in front with an RBI groundout to score Moore.
Rocky Paige was next up and delivered with a single to right field that was booted by the fielder, allowing Paige to advance to second. Katie Ely ran for Paige and scored on an RBI single by Cherry. After an illegal pitch, a passed ball and a walk to Hollett placed runners on the corners, White hit a ground ball to first base that the Lions couldn't handle. The error allowed Cherry to scored Troy's third run of the inning, moved Hollett to third and put White on first.
Next up was a slumping Hayden Gann who may have broken her slump by roping a double to right center, plating both runners and putting the Trojans ahead 6-1. In all, the Trojans sent nine batters to plate in the third, scoring five runs on four hits and two LMU errors.
The Lions (3-10) would get another solo homer in the fourth inning to get within four runs at 6-2.
Troy would regain the five run advantage with a single run in the bottom of the inning. Once again it was Moore getting things started with a single and a stolen base. This time she advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kenney, and scored on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Paige, making the score 7-2.
The Trojans would tack on two more in the fifth, making the score 9-2. A leadoff walk to Hollett set the table. White followed the walk with a single and a stolen base to put runners on second and third with nobody out. After a sharp line out by Gann to the third baseman, a groundout by Sarah Shields to second base allowed pinch runner Kortney Cooper to score from third.
The next batter Moore delivered her third hit of the game, this time an RBI single to score White from third.
The Trojans plated one run in the sixth on a Paige solo home run to end the game with a final score of 10-2.
GAME TWO
The three seeded Trojans met the second seed Hawaii for the fourth time in four days in the tournament's first semifinal. The Trojans were unable to put themselves in the championship game as they fell to the host Rainbow Wahine, 7-3.
Kala Moore led the Trojans at the plate once again, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Ashlyn Williams threw her second complete game of the day, but this timed picked up the loss. Williams struck out eight and gave up eight hits.
The Trojans threatened in the first inning after Kala Moore led the game off with a single. A Kaitlin Kenney sacrifice bunt and a Rocky Paige ground ball to shortstop moved Moore to third, but she was stranded their as the Trojans were unable to capitalize on the early base runner.
The Trojans would score in the second though, plating one run to take an early 1-0 lead. Sarah Harris led off the inning with her second home run in as many days off of Hawaii starter Stephanie Ricketts.
The Rainbow Wahine would get the run back in the third inning with a solo home run of their own, tying the score at 1-1.
Hawaii would also get a solo home run in the fourth inning, an inning in which they scored three runs. After the leadoff solo shot, a single followed by a double put runners on second and third with no outs. A wild pitch allowed the first run to score and a passed ball sent the third run of the inning to the plate. Williams battled back and stopped the bleeding by striking out the next three batters, however Hawaii had built a 4-1 lead.
Troy threatened in the fifth with two infield singles, however both came with two outs and the Trojans were unable to plate a run.
Hawaii added three more in the sixth on the strength of three singles and three walks, with all but one of the singles coming with two outs. The three spot put the Rainbow Wahine ahead, 7-1.
The Trojans were able to plate two runs in the seventh inning. A one out walk to Belinda White followed by a single by Hayden Gann put runners on first and second. A groundout advanced the runners to second and third and a single up the middle by Moore plated both runs, making the final score 7-3.
The Trojans will be back in action on Sunday when they face Loyola Marymount in the third place game of the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament. First pitch will be at 4:00 p.m. CT at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium in Honolulu.
