Trojans Storm Back for the Victory

Friday, February 18

Troy, AL

4:00 p.m.

Troy University

University of Central Arkansas

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

2/18/2011 7:36:00 PM | Softball

Troy scores 12 unanswered runs for the home-opening win

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score :: Photo Gallery

TROY, Ala. – After giving up five runs in third inning, the Troy University softball stormed back to defeat the University of Central Arkansas in the second game of the Quality Inn Classic, 13-5, at the Troy Softball Complex.

“I told the team in the postgame that I have been here a long time,” Troy head coach Melanie Davis said. “And there have many occasions that if we were down five runs we would not have the mental toughness or tenacity to come back, and to truly take control of the game with our bats. I am proud of all the extra work and effort that they have put in and their mental toughness, to execute in a pressure situation and score a lot of runs to turn the game around.”

Central Arkansas (1-6) used a pair of two-run home runs in the third inning from Melanie Bryant and Tara Underhill of Troy starter Haley Hutchins (McCalla, Ala./Brookwood HS) to take a 4-1 lead over the Trojans. After Hutchins left the game, Central Arkansas was able to get a run off Morgan Grove (Tampa, Fla./Tallahassee CC) to go up 5-1 heading to the bottom of the third inning.

It didn't take long for Troy (4-2) to respond as Kelly Luquette (St. Amant, La./St. Amant HS) led off the inning with a walk. She stole second on the next pitch, before advancing to third on a passed ball. Junior Nikki Hollett (Melbourne, Australia/Wesley College) connected on her fifth home run with a blast to center field to trim the deficit to 5-3.

Junior Sarah Harris (Surrey, BC, Canada) singled and advanced to second on a Taylor Smartt (Troy, Ala./Charles Henderson HS). Following a walk to Melissa Pratt (Tonganoxie, Kan./Highland CC) to load the bases with nobody out, junior Sarah Shields (Schereville, Ind./Lake Central HS) came through for the Trojans with an RBI single to left to plate Harris and trim the deficit to 5-4. The Trojans took the lead when Randi Ashworth (Crosby, Texas/Tallahassee CC) came through in a pinch-hitting role, driving in pinch runner Kortney Cooper (Dothan, Ala./Northview HS) and Pratt to give the Trojans a 6-5 lead – a lead they would not relinquish.

The third inning did not end until Michelle Hewett (Alford, Fla./Chipola JC) delivered with a two-run single up the middle, and Hollett with an RBI double to give the Trojans an 8-5 lead after three innings of play.

The Trojans added another run in the fifth off a Hewett home run, her second home run of the 2011 season to give the Trojans a 10-5 lead. The game stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth when the Trojans added three to end the game in six.

Smartt started sixth inning off with a single, followed by a Pratt single to left to move Smartt to second. After a Shields single to right loaded the bases for the Trojans, freshman Kacie McAllister (Dothan, Ala./Dothan HS) nearly ended the game with a double off the centerfield fence; plating Smartt and Pratt for a 12-5 lead. The Trojans ended the game when Hewett singled to center for the 13-5 final.

Hewett led the Trojans at the plate, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored; while a host of Trojans posted a pair of hits each in the victory. Hollett finished 2-for-3 with a home run and double, to go along with her three RBI; while Harris, Pratt and Shields each posted a pair of hits.

Grove (2-0) picked up the win for the Trojans as she went four innings in relief of Hutchins, allowing just one run off of four hits. Meanwhile, Hutchins went two innings, allowing four runs (three earned) off of six hits.

“We are a little concerned with how well Central Arkansas was able to get the bat on the ball tonight,” Davis said. “Haley sat a couple of pitches to a couple of really good hitters, and they were able to capitalize. We felt like we couldn't get into any bigger hole, and Morgan came and did a good job of keeping them off balance. We have to have Haley bounce back and take control, hitting her spots better as she is an important part of our success with Ashlyn being out this weekend.”

The Trojans return to action on day two of the Quality Inn Classic on Saturday when they face Samford University at 3 pm, followed by Bradley at 5:30 pm at the Troy Softball Complex.

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