Trojans Drop Pair to Open Tourney

Friday, March 4

Las Vegas, NV

8:15 p.m.

Troy University

University of San Diego

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

3/4/2011 1:54:53 AM | Softball

Troy loses late-inning contest to UNLV, before falling to San Diego late Friday night

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score (UNLV) | Box Score (San Diego)

LAS VEGAS – The Troy University softball team dropped a pair of games late Friday night on the opening day of the Eller Media Stadium Classic, hosted by UNLV.

UNLV 3, TROY 2

Senior Ashlyn Williams (Hattiesburg, Miss./Oak Grove HS) suffered a hard-luck loss, going 6 2/3 innings and allowed three runs off of six hits. Williams (2-2) struck out six, allowing just one hit over the first five innings of play. At the plate for the Trojans in their first game of the tournament, Kelly Luquette (St. Amant, La./St. Amant HS) was the only player to pick up multiple hits as she finished 2-for-4 on the day.

For UNLV, Amanda Oliveto went seven innings, allowed two runs off of five hits to pick up the victory. At the plate for the Rebels, Paige Emerson and Ashli Holland each picked up multiple hits.

Troy (11-4) wasted little time in getting on the board in their first game of the tournament, as they scored in the top of the first inning.

After Michelle Hewett (Alford, Fla./Chipola JC) was retired for the game's first out, Luquette singled through the right side on a full count, and advanced to second when Nikki Hollett (Melbourne, Australia/Wesley College) singled through the left side. Both Luquette and Hollett moved into scoring position when Hayden Gann (Hoover, Ala./Hoover HS) singled through the left side to load the bases with just one out.

Luquette crossed the plate with the run after junior Sarah Shields (Schereville, Ind./Lake Central HS) was hit by a pitch, giving the Trojans a 1-0 lead. Troy was unable to capitalize on the bases loaded-one out situation, as Taylor Smartt (Troy, Ala./Charles Henderson HS) and Randi Ashworth (Crosby, Texas/Tallahassee, Fla.) were retired to end the inning.

UNLV (8-7) threatened in their half of the first inning, as they had two players reach base via a walk and catcher's interference; getting a runner in scoring position until the final out was recorded.

The Rebels got their first hit in the third inning when Emerson beat out an infield single back to the mound with two outs. However, she was retired as she left the base early, ending any threat in that inning. They had their chances in the fourth and the fifth inning, as in each inning they had a base runner reach second against the Trojans; but were unable to capitalize.

UNLV was able to get on the scoreboard in the sixth inning, when Holland doubled to right center on the first pitch of the inning. She scored five pitches later when Tayler Van Acker singled through the right side to tie the score at 1-all.

The Trojans wasted no time in getting back ahead in the final inning of play. After an Ashworth walk and an Ashley Adkins (Tampa, Fla./Robinson HS), they took advantage of a UNLV wild pitch to move Adkins to second with two outs. She scored on a 2-2 double by Hewett to left field, pushing the Trojans ahead 2-1 in the final inning of play. Hewett moved to third on a Luquette single with two outs, before the inning was ended on a Hollett ground out.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Elena Fata singled through the right side on a two-strike pitch to get the inning started for the Rebels. However, her pinch runner, Amber Peterson was quickly retired as a sacrifice bunt attempt by Stefany Valentino was fielded by Luquette at third who threw out Peterson at second for the first out of the inning.

Valentino moved to second on a 3-2 pitch, as Paige Emerson singled up the middle with one out; putting the tying run in scoring position in the final inning. UNLV tied the game at 2-all when Ashli Holland singled up the middle, and then she and Emerson moved up to second and third on the throw with one out ; putting the winning run at third base for the Rebels. The game ended when UNLV was able to get a sacrifice fly to right off the bat of Van Acker.

SAN DIEGO 8, TROY 0

After a scoreless first inning, San Diego scored four runs in the second, and three more in the third to pull away for the victory.

Troy (11-5) was held to just three hits in the loss to San Diego. Kelly Luquette (St. Amant, La./St. Amant HS), Taylor Smartt (Troy, Ala./Charles Henderson HS) and Melissa Pratt (Tonganoxie, Kan./Highland CC) all went 1-for-3 in the loss.

Meanwhile, San Diego(4-3) was led by Jessica Tieszen (3-for-4 with a pair of RBI) and Kyliess Ordos (3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored) in the victory.

Junior Morgan Grove (Tampa, Fla./Tallahassee CC) suffered her first loss of the season. Grove (5-1) went two innings and allowed four runs off of seven hits.

The Trojans return to action on Saturday in the Eller Media Stadium Classic against Kansas (6 pm) and San Jose State (8:15 pm).

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