Troy University Athletics
Troy University
WKU
Trojans Drop Two at WKU
4/3/2010 1:00:00 AM | Softball
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Troy Trojans (19-18, 7-5) softball team went on the road for the second time in as many weekends and faced their second extra inning game in those road trips. Troy fell to WKU (20-13, 4-7) 2-1 in eight innings in game one and 6-2 in game two, leaving 10 runners on base.
GAME ONE
A passed ball in the first and an error in the eighth inning cost the Trojans a 2-1 loss in the game one at the WKU Softball Field.
Ashlyn Williams (15-12) went the distance for the Trojans and gave up six hits and no earned runs while striking out eight and walking just one.
Three different Trojans had a hit off of WKU freshman Kim Wagner (12-5)
WKU would get on the board first with a single score in the first inning. After a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt attempt was popped up over Nikki Hollett's head at third base, placing runners on first and second with no outs. Another sacrifice bunt attempt, this time executed correctly, moved both runners up one bag to second and third with one out. A passed ball allowed the runner from to third score and put WKU in the early lead, 1-0.
Troy would tie things up in the fifth. Trojan catcher Belinda White made up for the first inning passed ball as she got her first home run of the season, delivering a solo shot over the left center field fence at the WKU Softball Field.
The Trojans would lose the game in the eighth. WKU's leadoff batter put down a bunt attempt that Williams threw past a covering Courtney Cherry at first base. The ball rolled all the way to the fence and the Lady Topper scored on the play, ending the game, 2-1.
GAME TWO
The Trojans could take advantage of numerous baserunners in game two as they fell to WKU 6-2 and stranded 10 runners.
Sally Ward (2-4) got the start for Troy and gave up six runs, just two earned with six strikeouts.
Rocky Paige led the Trojans at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
For the second straight game, WKU got up first with a single run in the first inning. The Lady Toppers drew a one-out walk off of Ward and then hit three straight singles to plate the single run.
WKU added three runs in the third inning. After a quick first out, WKU's number two hitter reached on an error. A popped to Kala Moore at shortstop put two outs on the board, but a single followed by a walk loaded the bases. A bases clearing double plated all three and gave WKU a 4-0 lead.
Troy would get two back in the fifth in what was a wild inning. Things started with two one-out singles by Belinda White and Rocky Paige. After Hayden Gann was hit by pitch to load the bases and Nikki Hollett popped up to the catcher to record the Trojans third out, things got a little hectic.
The Trojans scored their first run when WKU catcher Sara Williams tried to pick White off at third. The throw hit White and deflected into left field, allowing White to score and Paige to advance to third, however Gann stayed at first. The next Trojan up was Courtney Cherry. WKU's Williams lost track of the count, and when Cherry walked, Williams threw to second thinking that Gann was stealing, allowing Paige to score the Trojans second run of the inning from third. In all, the Trojans scored two runs on two hits with two runners left on base and two steals of home, making the score 4-2.
The Trojans would threaten in the sixth with Sarah Shields and Ward each reaching base to lead off the inning. The two early baserunners chased WKU starter Mallorie Sulaski (4-4) in favor for game one starter Kim Wagner. Wagner retired the next three Trojans and the Trojans left the inning with 10 runners stranded through six innings.
WKU would increase their lead two to four with two runs in the sixth. The Lady Toppers led off with a solo home run. After that, a walk, a single and a Trojan error led to another run, making the score 6-2.
Wagner retired the Trojans in order in the seventh to get the save for WKU.
The Trojans and Lady Toppers will finish the three game series with a single game tomorrow at 12:00 noon at the WKU Softball Field.
