Trojans Hit Road in Conference Play

Game Notes [.pdf] :: Live Stats

TROY, Ala. (TroyTrojans.com) – The Troy University softball team returns to conference play this weekend, as they travel north to face Middle Tennessee State University in a rare Friday-Saturday series in Murfreesboro.

TROY (27-21, 8-8 Sun Belt) played their final non-conference game of the season against UAB on Tuesday, and now return to conference play where they have won seven of their last nine contests. After opening the season 1-6 in Sun Belt play, the Trojans have stormed back to a 7-2 record and have won their last two series against WKU (via a sweep) and Florida Atlantic (two of three).

The Trojans play two of their final three conference series on the road, beginning with this week against Middle Tennessee and then next week against North Texas.

TROY and Middle Tennessee have met the third-most of any team the Trojans have faced in their history, with TROY holding a 26-16 advantage. The Trojans have won seven consecutive games in the series since joining the Sun Belt Conference; however, prior to that, Middle Tennessee won four of the first five contests in conference play.

The Trojans enter in search of victory number 800 overall in the coaching career of Melanie Davis, who coincidently recorded her 700th at TROY in a conference game last weekend against Florida Atlantic. They enter the contest in sixth place in the conference, just one game behind South Alabama and two behind ULM for fourth. They are also just three games back in the win column from second place overall in the conference.

TROY is led by a host of juniors at the plate, led by Nikki Hollett who is near the top of every statistical category in the conference. She enters hitting .377 with 18 home runs and 53 RBI. Meanwhile, Hayden Gann is hitting .331 with seven home runs and 29 RBI, while Michelle Hewett is at .327 with four home runs and 20 RBI. Another pair of juniors – Sarah Harris and Sarah Shields – are both hitting over .300 for the season.

On the mound, senior Ashlyn Williams (14-12) has recorded a 2.20 ERA with 18 complete games in 23 starts. She has also recorded three saves in 169 innings, while striking out 227. Junior Morgan Grove compliments Williams on the weekend, as she has pitched 94 innings and recorded an 8-6 record, with a 3.43 ERA.

First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 1 pm as part of a doubleheader. The series will conclude at Blue Raider Field on Saturday afternoon at 1 pm.

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