Troy University Athletics
Troy University
North Texas
Trojans Drop Two to North Texas
4/17/2010 11:00:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala. - The Troy Trojans softball team managed to 12 hits in two games against North Texas, but they stranded a combined 13 runners and dropped both games to the Mean Green (23-14, 9-6). The Trojans (21-22, 9-9) dropped the first contest 7-1 and fell in game two 3-1.
GAME ONE
North Texas held a two run lead for most of the afternoon and added a grand slam in the seventh to take game one 7-1 from Troy to even the series.
After getting base runners in each of the first three innings, North Texas was able to scratch across the first run of the game with a single score in the third. Leadoff batter Renae Bromley was hit by a pitch to get on first and moved to second after Mariza Martinez hit into a fielder's choice in which the Trojans couldn't retire either runner.
A sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position and Mean Green first baseman Mallory Cantler delivered with a bloop single over second base that scored both runs.
Troy would get one back in the bottom of the inning. Sarah Harris got things started with a leadoff walk. She was pinch run for by Kortney Cooper who moved to second base on a Sarah Shields sacrifice bunt. A ground out moved Cooper over to third and Belinda White delivered with a double to right center field to plate Troy's first run, making the score 2-1.
The Mean Green would get a single run in the top of the fifth with a solo home run by Megan Rupp, her second of the season.
The Trojans would threaten in the sixth inning, loading the bases thanks to a Rocky Paige single, a Hayden Gann walk and Katie Ely was hit by a pitch. A strikeout and a pop up were sprinkled in to give the Trojans two outs. The juiced bases chased North Texas starter Kayla Lawson (5-2) for yesterday's starter Ashley Lail.
Lail forced Sarah Harris into a ground out to third to get out of the jam. The final line on Lawson read 5.2 innings pitched, giving up one run of four hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
North Texas would put the game out of reach in the seventh inning. A single by Cantler, followed by an error then a walk to Courtney Bradshaw loaded the bases for third baseman Rebecca Waters. Waters delivered with her fifth home run of the season and third grand slam of her career to push the score to 7-1.
Ashlyn Williams (17-16) finished the game with her 29th complete game of the season, giving up seven runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.
GAME TWO
The Trojans used quite a different lineup in game two, with Kala Moore hitting in the two hole instead of the leadoff spot for the first time in over 50 games, dating back to last season. Also, Katie Ely got her first start of the year, being called on for designated player duties, and Kortney Cooper made her first collegiate start in the outfield.
Those lineup changes wouldn't prove to payoff as the Trojans fell to North Texas by a 3-0 score. Troy managed six hits but stranded six runners. The Trojans defense did turn a season high three double plays in the game.
The Mean Green managed to load the bases in the second inning with one out, but Renae Bomley grounded into an inning ending double play to keep the game scoreless.
Troy starter Haley Hutchins worked herself into a jam again in the fourth, but nearly got out of it once again. This time Bromley came up with the bases loaded and no outs and once again hit into a double, this time Moore at shortstop to White at the plate and Paige at first base.
However, the Mean Green would respond, and two batters later with the bases loaded once again, Lisa Johnson put a 2 RBI single through the left side of the Trojans infield to give North Texas a 2-0 lead.
Sally Ward came on in relief for Hutchins (2-2) after the fourth, giving Hutchins a final line of 4.0 innings pitched, giving up just two runs on six hits.
North Texas would add one more run in the seventh inning. After two singles put runners on first and second, a fielder's choice in which the Trojans couldn't retire a runner loaded the bases with one out.
A pop up to shortstop allowed the Trojans to record the second out, but in an attempt to double up the runner at second base, the flip by Moore went wide of the bag allowing the runner at third to score.
The Mean Green's 3-0 lead would hold up as Ashley Lail (11-5) kept the Trojans off balance, pitching a complete game and giving up no runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
Johnson led the Mean Green at the plate, going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI.
The Trojans will take a break from Sun Belt action when they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take on the Crimson Tide on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Troy will then return home for a doubleheader with Florida A&M on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.
