Troy University Athletics
Troy University
South Alabama
Trojans Drop Two to Rival USA
5/9/2010 2:00:00 AM | Softball
The Troy Trojans softball team was swept by the South Alabama Jaguars on Saturday at Jaguars Field in Mobile.
Game One: South Alabama 1 - Troy 0
Troy pitcher Ashlyn Williams has had success on the mound against the South Alabama Jaguars through her career. The junior pitcher dealt 11 strikeouts in game one against the Jaguars on Saturday, but the pitching effort was not enough for the win. The Trojans fell to the Jaguars 1-0 in game one of the double-header, and it was the second time this season the Trojans have lost by that margin to the in-state rivals.
The Jaguars (21-22, 8-10 Sun Belt) scored the game's lone run in the bottom of the third inning. Designated player Danielle Honore doubled to right center field, and second-baseman Brittany Fowler drove her in with a single from third.
The Trojans (24-28, 10-13 Sun Belt) left nine runners on base in the one-run loss.
Kala Moore led the team on the day going three-for-four at the plate. Sarah Shields, Nikki Hollett, Courtney Cherry and Sarah Harris added hits for the Trojans as well.
"We had trouble getting runs across the plate all day," Trojans head coach Melanie Davis said. "Our struggles at the plate continued. Our hats are off to Beth Pilgrim. She pitched great against us tonight."
Game Two: South Alabama 3 - Troy 2 (11 Innings)
The character of the rivalry between Troy and South Alabama in 2010 has been one that is known for coming down to the last few pitches of the game. It took 11 innings to decide the winner of Saturday's double-header finale between the Trojans and Jaguars, and in the game's third hour the Jaguars secured a season sweep over the Trojans.
Haley Hutchins got the start on the mound for the Trojans. Hutchins went four innings on the mound allowing two runs and striking out one. Ashlyn Williams came in and went the distance of the game. Williams sent nine to the dugout with strikeouts. She walked three batters and allowed three hits and the game winning run for the Jaguars.
In the bottom of the 11th inning the Jaguars first baseman Meghan Collins got her first hit of the day, and one of the biggest of her career. It was the first run in the game for the Jaguars since the bottom of the third when they pushed two runs across the plate from a Christin Crocker double.
The Trojans posted their two runs in the top of the fifth as Hayden Gann singled with the bases loaded to drive in Kala Moore and Kortney Cooper.
The loss was the longest game of the year for the Trojans going 11 innings, and 12 runners were stranded on base.
"We're going to have to work on getting better in all three phases of the game," Davis said. "We will have to play better than we did today when we come back down here for the conference tournament next week."
The Trojans concluded the regular season on Saturday, and the Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament is set to start on Wednesday. Festivities for the tournament will begin on Tuesday night with a banquet and home run derby.
All tournament times and games are TBA.
