Trojans Drop a Pair of Heartbreakers

Saturday, March 12

Fresno, CA

7:00 p.m.

Troy University

Fresno State University

Photo by: Troy University

3/12/2011 11:57:39 PM | Softball

TROY comes up one run short of nationally-ranked Cal and Fresno State

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score (California) | Box Score (Fresno State)

FRESNO, Calif. – The Troy University softball team closed out their West Coast swing with a pair of heartbreaking losses to nationally-ranked California and Fresno State on Saturday.

Senior Ashlyn Williams (Hattiesburg, Miss./Oak Grove HS) gave up just four hits on the day but was hit with two losses as 11th-ranked California won the first game 1-0, followed by a 2-1 win by Fresno State in the second contest.

Troy (17-9) ends their West Coast swing with a 5-7 record; included in that was an impressive doubleheader sweep of Cal State Fullerton earlier in the week. Although the Trojans finished below .500 for the week, four of the game could have gone the other way as they lost four one-run decisions on the week (UNLV, Kansas, Cal and Fresno State).

However, the Trojans will now get a week off to prepare for conference play, beginning next weekend at home.

(11) California 1, TROY 0
The 11th-ranked Bears used a single run in the third inning on a play that many in Bulldog Diamond thought was a foul ball or an out.

After Jordan Wallace reached on infield error to start the inning, Victoria Jones stepped to the plate for the call that swung the momentum in the favor of Cal. She was credited with a single to the catcher, however, it looked as if the ball may have hit her just outside the box. Nonetheless, she moved to second a throwing error by Melissa Pratt (Tonganoxie, Kan./Highland CC); while Wallace came all the way around to score after an errant throw by Kortney Cooper (Dothan, Ala./Northview HS) from left field allowed her to cross the plate with the only run of the game.

Although the Trojans did not score, they had their chances in the contest off of Cal starter Jolene Henderson – who entered the contest with a 0.54 earned run average.

In the second inning, Troy loaded the bases after a Michelle Hewett (Alford, Fla./Chipola JC) single to center and a bunt from Kacie McAllister (Dothan, Ala./Dothan HS) put runners at first and second with no one out in the inning. The bases become loaded with one out after Sarah Shields (Schereville, Ind./Lake Central HS) drew a walk; but the next two batters were retired to end the inning.

The Trojans also got a runner in scoring position in the fourth inning after a one-out single to center from McAllister. She advanced to second on a groundout by Pratt, but was unable to score as Ashley Adkins (Tampa, Fla./Robinson HS) was retired to end the inning.

Ashlyn Williams (Hattiesburg, Miss./Oak Grove HS) suffered the loss, although she only allowed the one run off of the one hit. The senior did not allow an earned run, walking two and striking out three. Meanwhile, her counterpart, Henderson went seven inning and allowed just two hits and struck out eight in improving to 13-2 on the season for the Bears.

Hewett and McAllister were the only Trojans to collect hits on the afternoon for the Trojans.

Fresno State 2, TROY 1
The Trojans closed the Bayer CropScience Classic with another heartbreaking loss, falling to the host team in another pitcher's duel.

Ashlyn Williams (Hattiesburg, Miss./Oak Grove HS) was again the hard luck loser for the Trojans. Williams (6-5) allowed just two runs off of three hits, while striking out seven in the contest.
However, it was a two-run shot by Michelle Moses in the third inning that proved to be the difference in the contest. Fresno State got the inning started when Rebecca Hall reached on an infield single, before Moses stepped to the plate with two outs in the inning. She connected on the two-run home run to center which proved to be the only runs of the contest until the sixth.

In the sixth inning, the Trojans attempted to mount a comeback against the host team of the tournament. Kortney Cooper (Dothan, Ala./Northview HS) led off the inning with a double to left center, and was moved to third on a Kelly Luquette (St. Amant, La./St. Amant HS) ground out to second. Cooper then scored on a Taylor Smartt (Troy, Ala./Charles Henderson HS) single to center to trim the deficit to one before the side was retired.

The Trojans had one other time to score, and that was in the fifth inning, getting a runner to third as they trailed by a pair. Michelle Hewett (Alford, Fla./Chipola JC) led off the inning with a single to right, and advanced to second on a passed ball. She moved to third as Kacie McAllister (Dothan, Ala./Dothan HS) grounded out. However, Hewett was out at home as the shortstop fielded a ball hit by Melissa Pratt (Tonganoxie, Kan./Highland CC).

No one from either Troy, nor Fresno State, was able to get into the multi-hit category; as the two teams were held in check for the most part, combining for seven total hits in the contest.

The Trojans are off until next Saturday when they open Sun Belt Conference play in the friendly confines of the Trojans Softball Complex. The Trojans will face ULM in a doubleheader on Saturday, followed by a single game on Sunday.

Live stats and live video will be provided by the Troy University Athletics Media Relations Office for all three games.

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