TROY Hands Davis 800th Victory, Splits with MTSU

Friday, April 22

Murfreesboro, TN

3:00 p.m.

Troy University

Middle Tennessee State University

Photo by: Troy University

TROY Hands Davis 800th Victory, Splits with MTSU

4/22/2011 7:20:10 PM | Softball

Teams will play rubber game Saturday afternoon at 1 pm

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score (Game One) :: Box Score (Game Two)

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (TroyTrojans.com) – The Troy University softball team split a doubleheader with Middle Tennessee State University in Sun Belt Conference action at Blue Raider Field on Friday evening.

The Trojans were able to win the first game 4-2, while dropping the second contest 4-1.

Melanie Davis, who picked up her 700th victory at TROY last Saturday against Florida Atlantic, picked up her 800th overall victory in the opener against Middle Tennessee (15-28, 6-14 Sun Belt).

Hayden Gann led the TROY (28-22, 9-9 Sun Belt) nine-hit attack at the plate, as she went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks in the opener. Kacie McAllister also picked up a pair of hits in the opener as she went 2-for-3, while four different Trojans drove in runs for TROY in the opener.

Ashlyn Williams (15-12) pitched her 19th complete game of the season in the opener. The senior, who set down eight consecutive batters at one point in the game, allowed just five baserunners – all hits – as she struck out eight in the victory.

After the two teams battled for the majority of the first game of the doubleheader, the Trojans scored a run in the fifth and added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to pull away for the victory.

TROY jumped ahead in the first inning after Kelly Luquette drew a lead-off walk and was sacrificed to second by Taylor Smartt, before advancing to third on a Nikki Hollett groundout. With two outs in the inning, Gann collected her first hit of the game as she drove a one-strike pitch to left center to drive in Luquette for the 1-0 lead.

The Trojans appeared to take the lead in the second inning on a squeeze by Kortney Cooper. However, the plate umpire thought different and ruled that Middle Tennessee catcher Natalie Ysais was able to tag Michelle Hewett out before she touched the plate.

After Middle Tennessee tied the contest in the third inning, TROY was able to pull ahead by a pair by the fifth inning. In the fourth, Sarah Shields drove a ball to left just past the outstretched glove of Middle Tennessee leftfielder Nina Davenport. The double was good enough to score Gann, who reached on a single up the middle to lead off the inning.

They were able to add another in the fifth when Sarah Harris singled up the middle to score Luquette with two outs in the inning and the bases loaded. Luquette reached after she laid a bunt down to sacrifice Kacie McAllister over to second, however, the ball died on the line and was ruled a bunt single.

Middle Tennessee added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to trim the lead to 3-2, but the Trojans responded with a single run in the seventh to win by a pair. Callie Rawlinson – pinch running for Nikki Hollett after a single – advanced to second on a walk by Gann. She scored as Michelle Hewett laced a ball to left center, allowing Rawlinson to slide in head first and beat the throw home for the 4-2 lead.

In the nightcap, Middle Tennessee scored four runs off of TROY starter Morgan Grove (8-7) and were able to hold the Trojans scoreless. TROY was held hitless until the fourth when Nikki Hollett laced a double to left center off Janele Robinson.

The Trojans were able to get their second hit when Michelle Hewett beat out an infield single between the pitcher and second. The throw, defender and Hewett all reached base at the same time; however, Hewett was able to hit the bag first for the base hit. The inning stayed alive for TROY as Sarah Shields lined a single to right center, moving Hewett to third.

Pinch runner Ashley Adkins stole second, moments before Hewett scored after Kacie McAllister struck out swinging; but moved all the way to second as the catcher dropped the third strike as both teams were leaving the field. The Trojans looked to be trimming the deficit even further, but Nina Davenport made a diving catch of a sinking line drive by Luquette that ended the inning.

Grove allowed four runs in the first inning on four hits, then allowed just four hits over the next five innings in the loss.

The two teams will meet in the rubber game on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm at Blue Raider Field, with live stats and live audio being provided.

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