TROY Splits on Senior Day

Saturday, May 7

Troy, AL

1:00 p.m.

Troy University

University of South Alabama

Photo by: Edward Fieder

5/7/2011 6:14:19 PM | Softball

Trojans earn fifth seed in upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament

By: Travis Jarome

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

TROY, Ala. (TroyTrojans.com) – The Troy University softball team controlled their destiny on Saturday as they celebrated Senior Day.

A win, coupled with a pair of losses by ULM, or a pair of wins by the Trojans would vault them into the fifth seed in the upcoming Sun Belt Conference Tournament. They did just that on Saturday, splitting a doubleheader with South Alabama, while ULM lost their doubleheader to Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Trojans captured the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, 2-1, before falling late to South Alabama in the second contest of the Sun Belt Conference doubleheader, 4-3.

It was an emotional day from the outset, as the Trojans honored their four seniors and paid tribute to the lives lost in the storms last week. All three seniors, dressed for the game, played a part in the games on Senior Day 2011 at the Troy Softball Complex.

In the opener, Ashlyn Williams (17-13) closed her career at the Troy Softball Complex by hurling a complete-game two-hitter in the victory. The senior, who was honored before the opener, gave up one run – that in the first – while walking three and striking out 10. The strikeout total gives her 1,278 now for her career, the 18th best mark all-time in NCAA Division I.

After South Alabama jumped on top in the first inning following a home run by Brittany Fowler, the Trojans got things going in the fifth inning. Following a lead-off walk to Taylor Smartt, the Trojans used a bunt by Kacie McAllister and an infield single by Kelly Luquette to load the bases with just one out in the inning.

A wild pitch by South Alabama starter Hannah Campbell (16-6) allowed pinch runner senior Ashley Adkins to score and tie the contest up. The Trojans took the lead for good when Michelle Hewett lined a fly ball to left that was deep enough to score McAllister from third, just ahead of the throw, for the final margin.

South Alabama (35-15, 14-10 Sun Belt) threatened again in the sixth as they loaded the bases with just one out. However, Williams struck out a pair of Jags to end the threat.

In the nightcap, Haley Hutchins (5-5) pitched a complete game for TROY (30-25, 11-12 Sun Belt), allowing four runs off of seven hits while striking out four. However, it was a double by Haley Hopkins in the seventh inning that enabled Haley Richards to score from first with the winning run.

The Trojans struck for a pair of runs in the second inning to take the lead 2-1, on a double by senior Kortney Cooper (scoring Smartt) and a McAllister single (scoring Cooper). South Alabama answered back with a pair of runs to take the lead, but it was a sacrifice fly by McAllister that scored Adkins from third for the tying run; setting up the seventh inning.

Kelly Luquette and Michelle Hewett picked up a pair of hits for the Trojans in the doubleheader, while Luquette and McAllister both registered stolen bases on the day.

TROY locks up the fifth seed based on percentage points over ULM and will play fourth-seeded FIU on Wednesday afternoon. The official bracket and seedings will be released by the Sun Belt Conference office following conclusion of play on Sunday afternoon.

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