Troy University Athletics
Friday, February 18
Troy, AL
4:00 p.m.
Troy University
vs
University of Central Arkansas
Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer
Troy Opens Home Slate by Hosting Tournament
2/17/2011 9:34:45 AM | Softball
Trojans will host Bradley, Central Arkansas, North Florida and Samford over three days
Game Notes | Live Stats | Live Video (no audio)
TROY, Ala. – The Troy University softball program returns home after a successful opening weekend, opening their home slate with the Quality Inn Classic – featuring 10 games over three days at the Troy Softball Complex.
Troy (3-2) will host Bradley, Central Arkansas, North Florida and Samford in the tournament on the Troy University campus; beginning at 1:30 pm on Friday afternoon. Although the Trojans do not play the first game of the tournament, they hit the field in the second contest against Central Arkansas (1-4) beginning at 4 pm.
The Trojans will then play two games on Saturday – Samford (3 pm) and Bradley (5:30 pm) – before closing out the tournament on Sunday against North Florida at 12:30 pm. The Trojans will then play Samford in a game outside the tournament format, beginning at 3 pm at the Troy Softball Complex.
The Trojans are coming off a weekend in which they hit eight home runs in three games, as they were held without one in the final two games of the weekend. Junior Nikki Hollett (Melbourne, Australia/Wesley College) led the way in slugging, as she hit four home runs on the opening weekend which moved her to fifth all-time at the university. Junior Hayden Gann (Hoover, Ala./Hoover HS) hit two during the tournament; while Michelle Hewett (Alford, Fla./Chipola JC) and Kelly Luquette (St. Amant, La./St. Amant HS) each went yard once.
Meanwhile, at the plate, junior Sarah Shields (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central HS) led the way with a .455 batting average – including a perfect 4-for-4 day against Alabama A&M. Hollett hit .385 and Gann added an average of .385 as well for the Trojans.
On the mound, senior Ashlyn Williams (Hattiesburg, Miss./Oak Grove HS) led the way as she went 1-1, picking up a win over UAB and suffering a 2-1 loss to 40th-ranked Auburn. The senior pitched two complete games and picked up a school record 18th career shutout against UAB on Saturday. She also struck out 23 total batters and allowed just two walks. The senior will miss the weekend tournament after undergoing a surgical procedure that will keep her out for 7-10 days.
Meanwhile, junior Haley Hutchins (McCalla, Ala./Brookwood HS) and Morgan Grove (Tampa, Fla./Tallahassee CC) each picked up wins over the weekend. Hutchins picked up a victory over Alabama State after allowing just three hits, while Grove picked up a complete game shutout of Alabama A&M in her first collegiate start.
This weekend's opponents are no strangers to the Trojans, with the exception of Central Arkansas who the Trojans will be facing for the first time in school history. Troy and Samford have met 46 times in all, with the Trojans winning 36 of those matchups; including the last five. Meanwhile, Troy and Bradley and met just twice before and split the series; while the Trojans own a 5-1 advantage in the series over North Florida all-time.
Live stats of the tournament will be provided on TroyTrojans.com, rotating through each contest of the tournament. Also, live video will be shown (no audio provided) of each game with the exception of the last three games on Saturday due to time constraints and other athletic events.
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