Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Louisiana-Lafayette
Trojans Run Ends in Title Game
5/15/2010 10:00:00 PM | Softball
MOBILE, Ala. - Missed opportunities and one big inning cost the Troy Trojans softball team as they fell in the Sun Belt Conference Championship game to Louisiana-Lafayette 8-0.
The Trojans would load the bases twice without scoring and gave up five runs in the seventh inning as they fell to regular season champion Ragin' Cajuns.
Ashlyn Williams (21-22) went the distance for the Trojans, giving up eight runs, six earned with five strikeouts.
Nikki Hollett, Rocky Paige and Hayden Gann all recorded one hit for Troy.
Troy would threaten in the first but failed to scored. An error, a single and a walk loaded the bases with two outs, but the Trojans couldn't deliver as both teams went scoreless in the first.
Both sides went scoreless in the second as well, but Louisiana-Lafayette got on the board first in the top of the third. After the leadoff batter reached on a walk, a failed sacrifice bunt put a runner on first with one out. The next batter singled but the Sun Belt Conference home run leader Christ Orgeron struck out to give the Cajuns two outs. However, with runners on first and second, the Cajuns cleanup batter, Gabriele Bridges doubled down the third base line to scored both runners, putting the Trojans in a 2-0 hole.
The two runs by Louisiana-Lafayette in the third inning marked the first time in the entire tournament that the Trojans have trailed.
The Ragin' Cajuns would add one more run in the fourth thanks to two Trojan errors and a leadoff single.
The Trojans would load the bases again in the sixth, this time with no outs, but a strikeout and a double play ended the threat with the Trojans still trailing 3-0.
Louisiana-Lafayette would add five more in the seventh. The leadoff batter reached base on an infield single and moved to third on a Trojan error that put runners on first and third with no outs. After an single plated the first run, Gabriele Bridges hit a three run home run to center field, making the score 7-0. The runs would continue as the next batter hit a triple and scored on an infield single.
Donna Bourgeois (22-9) went the distance for the Cajuns, giving up three hits and striking out five. Bridges finished 2-for-5 with five RBI.
At the conclusion of the game, both Williams and Paige were honored as All-Tournament winners.
With the loss the Trojans run through the Sun Belt Championships comes to an end. The sixth seeded Trojans will close their season with Sun Belt Conference Tournament Runner-Ups on their resume and a lot fond memories from their past season and their run in Mobile, Ala.
