Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Florida A&M
Trojan Offense Comes Alive in Sweep
4/21/2010 11:00:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala. - The Troy Trojans (23-23) softball got back to .500 mark with a doubleheader sweep of the Florida A&M on Wednesday. Sally Ward and Haley Hutchins combined to allow the Rattlers (21-20) just three runs as Troy's offense pounded out 23 hits on the day.
Sarah Harris led the Trojans at the plate, going a combined 5-for-6 with a home run. Kala Moore and Rocky Paige each had four hits on the day.
GAME ONE
Sally Ward an Haley Hutchins combined to one-hit the Florida A&M Rattlers as the Trojans' offense pounded out 13 hits and Troy defeated Florida A&M 7-1.
Ward (3-4) went 4.0 innings giving just one hit and one unearned run while striking out four. Hutchins came in to start the fifth inning and threw three no-hit innings with four strikeouts.
Sarah Harris and Hayden Gann each had three hits while Harris and Nikki Hollett each posted 2 RBI.
The Trojans would set the tone with a quick score in the first inning. Rocky Paige got things started with a one-out double, her second two bagger in as many days. With two outs, Gann hit the Trojans second double of the inning, driving in Paige from second base.
Troy would take control with a four spot thanks to four hits and one big Florida A&M error. Courtney Cherry led off with a walk and was moved to second after a Marcy Sartain sacrifice bunt. Harris delivered with a single and advanced to second on a throw that kept Cherry at third. Kala Moore extended her hitting streak to ten games with an RBI single up the middle to score Cherry.
Paige then reached on an error to Rattler shortstop Joyce Harold that scored Sarah Harris but should've retired the side. Troy take advantage of the opportunity as Hollett hit a 2 RBI single through the left side to plate Paige and Moore, making the score 5-0. Gann would then hit her second double of the game but Hollett was unable to score.
Florida A&M would get one run back in the fourth. Tenisha Dixson would strike out but reach on a passed ball. She advanced to second on a single and scored thanks to two wild pitches.
The Trojans would add two mote runs to their lead in the fifth inning. Cherry would draw her second leadoff walk of the game and advance on Sartain's second sacrifice of the game. Sarah Harris would then hit her fourth home run of the season to give the Trojans a 7-1 lead.
Jennifer Lindsay (8-8) went 3.1 innings and gave up five runs on eight hits. Lindsay was lifted in the fourth inning for Amanda Reyes after a line drive hit off her pitching hand.
GAME TWO
Game two finished much the same as the first, with Hutchins and Ward combining to keep the Rattlers in check as the offense connected on nine hits to complete the sweep of the Rattlers 4-2.
Hutchins (3-2) got the start in the circle going 4.1 innings, giving up five hits and one earned run. Ward got the save, the first of her career, after going 2.2 innings, giving up three hits and one run.
Moore, Paige, and Harris each had two hits.
The Lady Rattlers would get on the board first in game two, scoring one run in the first inning thanks to two doubles.
Troy would respond with two runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to a Rattler error. Moore and Paige each had bunt singles to reach base. The hit gave Moore base knocks in each of the last 11 games, the longest streak by a Trojan this year. A fly out advanced them to second and third. Gann attempted a squeeze bunt, but Moore was retired at the plate. Gann tried to catch Florida A&M catcher Courtney Harold napping and advanced to second. The throw from Harold was too high and went all the way to the fence, allowing Paige and Gann to both score, giving the Trojans an early 2-1 lead.
Troy would add an insurance run in the fifth. Cherry would reach on a single to get things started. Sartain would than beat out a sacrifice attempt to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt by Belinda White would move both into scoring position and a sacrifice fly by Sarah Shields would score Cherry and put the Trojans up 3-1.
The Trojans would get one more in the fifth thanks to a couple of Rattler passed balls. Paige led off with a single and pinch runner Ashley Adkins advanced to second on a passed ball. After a walk to Gann, a single by Harris moved Adkins to third and Gann to second. Another passed ball would score Adkins and put the Trojans up by three, 4-1.
Florida A&M added one in the seventh thanks to two singles to make the final score 4-2.
The Trojans will be back in action this weekend when they host Louisiana-Lafayette in a three game series. Saturday's doubleheader will be aired on CSS/CST with a first pitch set for 3:00 p.m. The Trojans and Cajuns will finish out the series with a single game at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
