Season Ends at Conference Tournament

Friday, May 13

Lafayette, LA

3:00 p.m.

Troy University

Florida Atlantic University

Photo by: Sun Belt Conference

5/13/2011 7:06:00 PM | Softball

TROY fell to Florida Atlantic in their third game in 24 hours on Friday afternoon

By: Travis Jarome

Box Score

LAFAYETTE, La. (TroyTrojans.com) - Playing their third game in a 24 hour span, the Troy University softball team fell to Florida Atlantic 11-0 in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon, ending the season 32-27 overall.

The fifth-seeded Trojans finished up their game with top-seeded Louisiana-Lafayette after 9 p.m. Thursday night, returned to defeat seventh-seeded WKU on Friday morning before falling to second-seeded Florida Atlantic Friday afternoon.

The two teams battled for the first two innings, deadlocked in a 0-0 tie. The Trojans had their first chance to get on the board in the second inning when Hayden Gann and Sarah Harris reached to start the inning. After an unsuccessful bunt attempt, the Trojans fell victim to an odd occurrence in the inning. Taylor Smartt hit a shot up the middle that looked to be going through, but it glanced off the glove of Florida Atlantic (34-24) starter Rose Greesley. The ball deflected to shortstop Carly Speerin, who dove and caught and doubled up the runner at second to end the inning.

Following that play in the bottom of the second inning, Florida Atlantic came in and scored six runs in the top of the third inning to take the lead from the Trojans.

TROY got runners in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings as they attempted to mount a comeback. The best threat came in the fourth inning when Nikki Hollett doubled off the left centerfield wall to lead off the inning. She advanced to third on a fly out by Hayden Gann, before Gressley was able to work out of the inning for the Owls.

The loss ends the careers of Ashley Adkins, Kortney Cooper and Ashlyn Williams. The trio led the Trojans to four conference tournaments and a conference tournament runner-up in 2010. Williams ends her career as the school's all-time leader in appearances, wins, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched and strikeouts. She also ends her career in the top 17 all-time in NCAA Division I in strikeouts.

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