Trojans Sweep Cal State Fullerton

Tuesday, March 8

Fullerton, CA

4:00 p.m.

Troy University

California State University at Fullerton

3/8/2011 10:24:15 PM | Softball

The Trojans improve to 3-1 in true road games and are now 4-3 on West Coast swing

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)

FULLERTON, Calif. – The Troy University softball team ran their win streak to four – their second longest of the season – with a sweep of Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday afternoon.

The games were the sixth and seventh for Troy (15-6) this week as they travel the West Coast to strengthen their schedule, and get ready for Sun Belt Conference play which starts next week.

TROY 4, Cal State Fullerton 0 (Game 1)
In a year where offensive production has been the focal point, the Trojans turned to what has got them to this point in history – their pitching. Senior Ashlyn Williams (Hattiesburg, Miss./Oak Grove HS) pitched a complete-game shutout in the opening game of the doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon; bouncing back from her performance in the Eller Media Classic this past weekend.

Williams (4-3) went seven innings, allowing just two hits and striking out 10 along the way. She also allowed just three other base runners in the contest, via walks. She was able to keep the Titans off the scoreboard despite runners reaching scoring position in the first, second, third and sixth innings against the senior.

The Trojans got on the scoreboard in the second inning after a lead-off single by Michelle Hewett (Alford, Fla./Chipola JC), followed by a one-out double by Melissa Pratt (Tonganoxie, Kan./Highland CC) that scored Hewett with the game-winning run .

But it was the sixth inning where the Trojans broke the game open, scoring three runs in the frame for the final margin. Hewett doubled to lead off the inning, moved to third on a Sarah Shields (Schereville, Ind./Lake Central HS) single and later scored. The Trojans added another run on a Kelly Luquette (St. Amant, La./St. Amant HS) single, before a third run cross the plate on a Cal State Fullerton error for the final margin.

In the opening game, Hewett collected three hits in four plate appearances to lead the Trojans – scoring a pair of runs – while Pratt also collected three hits on the day. Freshman Taylor Smartt (Troy, Ala./Charles Henderson HS) was the only other Trojan to pick up multiple hits, as she went 2-for-4 on the afternoon.

TROY 13, Cal State Fullerton 4 (Game 2)
The Trojans turned back to their offensive prowess in the second game of the doubleheader as they scored four runs in the top of the first inning to grab the early lead over Cal State Fullerton.

After a Kelly Luquette (St. Amant, La./St. Amant HS) walk to start the game and a passed ball to move her to second, fellow freshman Taylor Smartt (Troy, Ala./Charles Henderson HS) singled to move Luquette to third. Nikki Hollett (Melbourne, Australia/Wesley College) and Hayden Gann (Hoover, Ala./Hoover HS) then provided a spark in the middle of the error; driving in the game's first two runs.

However, the Trojans weren't done as Michelle Hewett (Alford, Fla./Chipola JC) drew a walk to load the bases; moving Hollett to third and Gann to second. Both Hollett and Gann were able to score when freshman Kacie McAllister (Dothan, Ala./Dothan HS) doubled to left to move the Trojans ahead 4-0.

After allowing a single run in the first and second to Cal State Fullerton, the Trojans answered with one of their own in the fourth and fifth as Melissa Pratt (Tonganoxie, Kan./Highland CC) and Smartt each delivered RBI singles.

The Trojans added another run in the sixth for insurance, giving support to Morgan Grove (Tampa, Fla./Tallahassee CC) who provided support for starter Haley Hutchins (McCalla, Ala./Brookwood HS). Grove improved to 6-1 on the season, as she went six innings in relief. The junior allowed two runs off of seven hits, while striking out three batters on the night.

However, Troy wasn't through as Hollett and Gann provided an explosion for the fans in attendance, as they as went back-to-back for the fourth time this season. Hollett hit her 14th home run of the season on a 1-1 pitch, hitting the ball out to right and driving in three runs. That was followed by Gann, who knocked the first pitch she saw out to right center for an 11-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning. The Trojans would add two more runs before the inning was over.

Hollett finished the day 4-for-5 with two runs scored and four runs batted in; while Smartt finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI. Meanwhile, Gann and Pratt each picked up a pair of hits in the victory, along with McAllister.

The Trojans return to action on Friday in the Bayer CropScience Invitational on the campus of Fresno State University.

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