Troy University Athletics
Tuesday, April 12
Troy, AL
6:00 p.m.
Troy University
vs
(5) University of Alabama
TROY Hosts Top-Ranked Alabama
4/12/2011 3:39:36 PM | Softball
TROY returns to the Troy Softball Complex for fourth consecutive game Tuesday night
Game Notes [.pdf] :: Alabama Game Notes [.pdf] :: Live Stats :: Live Video :: Live Audio
TROY, Ala. (TroyTrojans.com) – The Troy University softball team puts their four-game winning streak on the line Tuesday night when they host top-ranked Alabama at 6 pm at the Troy Softball Complex.
TROY (25-18, 6-7 Sun Belt) has surged into the thick of the race in the Sun Belt Conference standings this week after winning four consecutive games in conference play. The Trojans find themselves in sixth place, just one game out of fifth and two games out of third place overall in the conference.
The Trojans step out of conference play; however, on Tuesday as they host (1/1) Alabama (37-5, 12-4 SEC) in non-conference play for the first time this season. It will be the second time the two teams have met, with Alabama winning the first contest 9-1 on the opening weekend of the season at the All-Alabama Classic in Vestavia Hills. It is the first time this season that the Trojans have hosted a nationally-ranked opponent at the Troy Softball Complex.
TROY is in the middle of an eight-game home stand that started this past weekend against WKU and goes until a mid-week game next week against UAB. Meanwhile, Alabama comes in on a three-game losing streak – their first multi-game losing streak of the season – as they dropped three conference games to LSU over the weekend.
The Trojans are led by the reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week Nikki Hollett, and the reigning Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week Ashlyn Williams. Hollett hit .700 last week, and is currently hitting .396 on the season with a conference-leading 18 home runs and 52 runs batted in.
However, although her numbers are astronomical right now, she is not the only offense for the Trojans. Junior Hayden Gann, hitting behind Hollett in the order, is hitting .341 on the year with seven home runs and 27 runs batted in. Michelle Hewett is hitting .333 as she has bounced around from lead-off to the five spot in the order, Sarah Harris .321 and Sarah Shields .319 on the year for the Trojans.
Meanwhile, on the mound, Williams has posted a 12-11 record with a 2.08 earned run average; while over the last week going 3-0 with one save and a 0.33 earned run average. The senior has struck out 190 batters this season.
Alabama will enter with one of the most potent offenses in the nation, as they are among the national leaders with 72 home runs – led by Jackie Traina with 13, and six others with six or more on the season. Kalya Braud is among the leaders in batting average in the country, as she is hitting .459 so far this season. On the mound, Kelsi Dunne leads the Tide with a 1.09 ERA and an 18-2 record with 205 strikeouts; while Traina has a 1.21 ERA and a 14-3 record with 136 strikeouts.
Admission is free to all home softball games, and make sure to catch the pregame festivities beginning at 5:30 pm. Live stats and live video will be provided, and the game can be heard in the Tuscaloosa area on WVUA-FM 90.7 or online at wvuafm.edu.
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