Trojans Advance in Sun Belt Tournament

Friday, May 13

Lafayette, LA

10:00 a.m.

Troy University

Western Kentucky University

Photo by: Sun Belt Conference

5/13/2011 12:50:34 PM | Softball

TROY defeats WKU and will play their third game in 24 hours at 3 pm against Florida Atlantic

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. (TroyTrojans.com) - Playing their second game in nearly 12 hours in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, the Troy University softball team took advantage of an outburst at the plate for a 7-2 victory over Western Kentucky on Friday morning at Lamson Park.

TROY (32-26) used 13 hits and a four-hitter from senior Ashlyn Williams to advance to the 3 p.m. game against Florida Atlantic on Friday afternoon. The Trojans face a must-win against the Owls to force an "if game" on Saturday morning.

Five different players - Michelle Hewett, Kelly Luquette, Hayden Gann, Kortney Cooper and Kacie McAllister - recorded a pair of hits for the Trojans in the victory. But it three-run sixth inning, highlighted by four consecutive bunts - the second time the Trojans have done that in this tournament.

After a one-out bunt by Cooper, she advanced to second when McAllister laid down a perfect bunt to put runners at first and second with just one out. After a pitching change, Hewett laid down a bunt right in front of the plate that would have loaded the bases; however a throwing error by All-Conference catcher Karavin Dew allowed Cooper and McAllister to score and sent Hewett all the way to third. The final bunt, and the play that put the game out of reach, came off the bat of Luquette as she laid a squeeze in down the third base line that scored Hewett for the final margin of victory.

Meanwhile, Williams (19-14) pitched her third consecutive complete game of the tournament on Friday morning. The senior allowed just four hits, while walking two and striking out 10 in the victory. Williams struck out at least two batters in four of her seven innings in the contest.

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