Davis Reaches Milestone, TROY Splits

Saturday, April 16

Troy, AL

1:00 p.m.

Troy University

Florida Atlantic University

Photo by: Troy University

4/16/2011 5:18:02 PM | Softball

TROY and Florida Atlantic play rubber game Sunday afternoon

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score [Game 1] :: Box Score [Game 2]

TROY, Ala. (TroyTrojans.com) – On a day in which a career milestone was achieved, the Troy University softball team split a Sun Belt Conference doubleheader with Florida Atlantic, winning the first game 3-2 before losing in game two, 10-2.

TROY (26-20, 7-8 Sun Belt) used a three-run home run in game one to help head coach Melanie Davis record her 700th victory at the university, while she is just two short of 800 for her career. Meanwhile, in game two, Florida Atlantic used two big innings to run away from the Trojans to split the doubleheader.

Davis improved her record at TROY to 700-407-2, while she stands at 798-437-2 for her career after the doubleheader on Saturday.

In the opener, the Trojans got all the offense they needed with two outs in the inning. After Kelly Luquette walked to open the contest, Hayden Gann drew a two-out walk to put runners at first and second. Junior Sarah Harris connected on a home run to left to give TROY a 3-0 lead; a lead they would hold on to the entire contest.

Senior Ashlyn Williams (13-12) pitched a complete game, allowing just four hits and two runs. She walked just one and struck out 11 Florida Atlantic batters.

Florida Atlantic (27-21, 11-6 Sun Belt) made a comeback in the seventh inning as Rose Greeley hit a two-out two-run home run to center field, trimming the lead to 3-2. After Taylor Fawbush reached on a fielding error with two outs, Williams got Cari Curfman to pop up on the infield for the final out of the contest.

Greeley (14-10) suffered the loss for the Owls as she went six innings and allowed just two hits, while striking out 10 batters.

Meanwhile, in game two, Florida Atlantic got to TROY starter Morgan Grove (8-5) for four runs in the first inning, and they were able to score five more in the top of the sixth to defeat the Trojans.

The Trojans scored a run in each the second and sixth innings in the loss, but had a chance in the sixth to add more on the board. TROY scored their first run in the second after Harris drew a walk, followed by a Sarah Shield RBI double down the left field line.

In the sixth, Taylor Smartt reached on an infield error to lead off the inning. The Trojans looked to be getting back into the contest, but Nikki Hollett's towering shot down the left field line just hooked foul before she was able to single to left to put runners at first and second with no one out. The runners moved up on a wild pitch, before Smartt scored on a sacrifice fly by Hayden Gann to center. However, that was all the Trojans could muster in the final inning in the loss.

On the afternoon, Harris led the Trojans at the plate with a pair of hits in five plate appearances, while scoring two runs and driving in three more.

TROY and Florida Atlantic meet in the rubber game of the series Sunday afternoon at the Troy Softball Complex. First pitch is set for 1 pm, and admission is free. Live stats and live video will be provided by the Troy University Athletics Media Relations Office.

For all the latest news on Troy University Athletics, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/TroyAthletics, or at /TroySoftball, and become a fan on Facebook.