West Coast Trip Awaits for Trojans

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TROY, Ala. – For the second time in as many years, the Troy University softball program will head west to play competition outside of the southern region. The Trojans will play 12 games over the next week, including games in Las Vegas and in California.

Trojans head coach Melanie Davis sees the trip as a benefit to her program, giving them a chance to get on the national radar in hopes of earning an NCAA Regional bid later in the year.

“One of the struggles for teams from this region that are not in your 'power conferences' have is strength of schedule issues; getting your RPI where it needs to be to get into the tournament,” Davis said. “Our RPI has been strong enough to get is on the bubble of making the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team when we don't win the conference; however, we have been told that our strength of schedule is what has kept us out on occasion. Many teams this side of the Mississippi, to try and battle that obstacle, travel out to the West coast to try and pick up all of the power points that you get from a strong brand of softball that is played on the West coast.”

The Trojans will face five different teams in the Eller Media Stadium Classic in Las Vegas beginning on Friday, facing a team that have all ready played this season (Bradley), one they have not faced in several years (Kansas) and three teams they will be facing for the first time (San Diego, San Jose State and UNLV).

“This trip gives us an opportunity to play some of those teams that can help with our strength of schedule,” Davis said. “Not only in Vegas but in California, and although we will be playing some teams that are doing the same thing we are doing; we will encounter those teams west of the Mississippi. We will get a chance to play Kansas, who is having a great year, which will give us an opportunity to play a power conference team. In terms of justifying this trip and having the kids to do fundraising so we could go, that is our main reason for going – to get a chance to build our non-conference schedule to get is on the verge of making the tournament.”

Troy (11-3) has been challenged this season with their schedule as they have faced the top-ranked team in the country in Alabama and another that is ranked in the top 25 in Auburn. That schedule will get tougher this week as the Trojans will face two teams in the top 40 in Fresno State and Kansas, and another in the top 10 in the nation (California).

“You need those teams on your schedule, those Top 25 teams, and ultimately you have to get a certain number of wins for it to matter,” Davis said. “It gives a chance to get some quality wins, so we need to take care of business when we are on the field with those opponents. We still keep looking back to that early loss to Auburn, who is off to the best start in program history, and we have had some success in the past.

“We wish we could go back and play them again since we gave up an unearned run that ended up making the difference in the game. However, we are trying to use that as a lesson to do the best we can to put together quality performances against the quality competition we face. The other side to that is that Sun Belt softball gets stronger and stronger every year. These challenges of the 12 games on the West coast should get us ready to play conference games which we get into as soon as we get back.”

The Trojans will head out west with one of their most productive offensive teams in recent memory. They are hitting .368 this season with 149 total hits (58 of those are extra base hits), including 19 home runs. The Trojans are hitting 100 points higher than their opponents, and have outscored their opponents 105-53 this season. They have scored double digit runs in four games already this season.

Any one person can take credit for the offensive outburst this season. It could be junior Nikki Hollett (Melbourne, Australia/Wesley College) who leads the team, and is among the conference leaders, in every major statistical category. It could be junior Hayden Gann (Hoover, Ala./Hoover HS), hitting behind Hollett in the lineup. It could be true freshman Taylor Smartt (Troy, Ala./Charles Henderson HS), or even junior Sarah Shields (Schereville, Ind./Lake Central HS), or how about junior Michelle Hewett (Alford, Fla./Chipola JC).

“I can't say enough about how pleased we are with our offensive numbers, since we are hitting .368 so far this season,” Davis said. “That is a full 100 points have often time achieved, and it is not saying we have played a weak schedule. The biggest stat is that Hayden Gann is getting back in form, as she is coming back from offseason surgery and missed a lot of work in the fall. We challenged her in one of our earlier tournaments, teams started pitching around Nikki a little bit, and I told Hayden she was very capable of getting the job done in the four-hole. I challenged her to do just that and she has come through in fine fashion.”

Lost in the shuffle is the fact that Shields was just a few days away from being redshirted as she missed the entire fall after having knee surgery. Or the fact that Smartt is a true freshman being thrust into the starting lineup in the middle infield.

“Sarah Shields was a question mark for a redshirt with her ACL,” Davis said. “Just around four months out of her surgery, she is doing a tremendous job of getting the bat on the ball. Since we lost Sarah Harris for a while with her concussion, Shields has stepped in to that spot and taken hold of that position. I think Taylor Smartt is maturing quickly as a true freshman, she is from a baseball family and truly understands the game. I consider her a gamer, both on the field and off. I think she will get better as she sees more quality pitching and gets to be a seasoned player.”

However, the two Trojans who remain atop the team's board and conference's leader board are Hollett and Hewett. The two have combined to hit 13 home runs, drive in 35 runs, and collect 46 hits in 14 games.

“Nikki's numbers are phenomenal,” Davis said. “Ironically someone asked her Tuesday at practice about them and she said she didn't know what they were, and didn't want to know what they were. She is not concerned with her stats, she is just seeing the ball really well right not.

“Michelle Hewett has really surprised us and been swinging away more, which is a good thing to have as a leadoff. We are going to implement her slap game more, and get them into her plans and into our plans. But we saw it happen, everything can come to a screeching halt at anytime. We are going to see quality pitching on this trip, and we cannot let it come into doubting the mechanics and fundamentals of the first 14 games. I think we have the kids that can continue to perform with the bat in their hands.”

Not only are the Trojans hitting the ball well, but they are also steady on the mound. The Trojans have long been considered a pitching school, and with senior Ashlyn Williams (Hattiesburg, Miss./Oak Grove HS) holding every major school record … it is easy to see why they are considered that.

Not only that, but Williams returned this past weekend just 13 days after surgery to appear in three games.

“The fact that Ashlyn was able to come back speaks highly of her work ethic in the offseason, and our strength and conditioning program with coach (Sharon) O'Mara and Jason Vest,” Davis said. “The fact she was shut down for two weeks and was able to come back with the stamina she had, shows you where she is at. With the other two pitchers, having to carry the load with her out, tells you what they are capable of as well. I think they have done a good job of staying fit.

“One thing talking about quiet statistics, is looking at Morgan Grove's record since she is at 5-0. That says a lot right there. If we could put out defense together with her, since she and Haley both get a lot of ground ball outs, they could be a great tandem to work with Ashlyn. Now that we have all three healthy, hopefully we can keep them there, and get back to where we have been in the past – a traditionally strong component of our game.”

The Trojans will get the trip started on the field Friday evening when they face host UNLV at 6 pm, followed by San Diego at 8:15 pm. The tournament will see the Trojans on the field for two games on Saturday and another on Sunday; before departing for California.

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