Trojans Use Long Ball and Pitching to Win Fourth Straight

Sunday, February 27

Hattiesburg, MS

12:30 p.m.

Troy University

University of Evansville

Photo by: Troy University

Trojans Use Long Ball and Pitching to Win Fourth Straight

2/27/2011 4:06:20 PM | Softball

Kortney Cooper and Michelle Hewett go deep, Haley Hutchins and Ashlyn Williams allow just two hits

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Troy University softball team used back-to-back home runs and an outstanding performance from a pair of hurlers to defeat Evansville 6-1 in the third game of the Southern Miss Invitational Sunday afternoon.

After Evansville took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, the Trojans quickly responded by not just tying the contest; but taking the lead in the bottom half of the fourth inning.

Junior Sarah Shields (Schereville, Ind./Lake Central HS) started the fourth off with a double to left centerfield. After a pair of fly outs, the Trojans turned to freshman Kacie McAllister (Dothan, Ala./Dothan HS) who promptly delivered with an RBI single up the middle to plate pinch runner Callie Rawlinson (Auburn, Ala./Lee-Scott Academy) and tie the game at 1-all.

The Trojans took their first lead, and an insurmountable lead, just three pitches later when senior Kortney Cooper (Dothan, Ala./Northview HS) blasted her first career home run down the leftfield line and give the Trojans a 3-1 lead. The Trojans pushed the lead to three runs on the very next pitch as junior Michelle Hewett (Alford, Fla./Chipola JC) blasted her fourth home run from the lead-off position to centerfield.

Troy (9-3) added another pair of runs in the sixth inning for insurance against the Purple Aces to remain undefeated in the tournament. Hewett led off the inning with an infield single, moved to second on a Kelly Luquette (St. Amant, La./St. Amant HS) and then to third on a wild pitch. After Hewett was tagged out at home on a fielder's choice off the bat of Nikki Hollett (Melbourne, Australia/Wesley College), both Luquette and Hollett scored on a Hayden Gann (Hoover, Ala./Hoover HS) single up the middle to push the score to 6-1.

The Trojans also got an outstanding performance on the mound from starter Haley Hutchins (McCalla, Ala./Brookwood HS) and Hattiesburg-native Ashlyn Williams (Hattiesburg, Miss./Oak Grove HS). Hutchins (4-2) went four innings and allowed just one run off of two hits, while Williams came on for her first save of the inning with three innings of no-hit ball – striking out eight batters in the process.

Hewett led the way for the Trojans at the plate, going 3-for-4; while Luquette, Hollett and Shields each added a pair of hits each in the victory. The Trojans recorded 15 hits against the Purple Aces, pushing their total in back-to-back games to 32 (as they had 17 against Mississippi Valley State in the final game yesterday).

The Trojans return to action at 5:30 pm Sunday evening against Southern Miss to wrap up play in the Southern Miss Invitational.

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