Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Tennessee Tech University
Troy Comes From Behind Twice, Knocks Off Cleveland State and Tennessee Tech
2/25/2012 6:40:00 PM | Softball
The Trojans picked up their sixth-straight win by coming from behind twice to beat Cleveland State and Tennessee Tech.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Troy softball team came from behind twice on Saturday, trailing going into its final at bat in both games, to knock off the Cleveland State Vikings, 6-5 and the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, 3-2, on the second day of the Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial.
The Trojans (11-1) are now 4-0 at the Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial and face Purdue tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. CST.
The 11-1 start by Troy is the best start to a season by any team in head coach Melanie Davis' 19 seasons at the helm of the program. Troy's best start before 2012, came in 1998 when Troy won it's first 10 games of the season. The Trojans would go on to lose their next four games falling to Florida State, Florida A&M, and Middle Tennessee.
Troy has won six games in a row for the first time since 2009. That season the Trojans recorded a nine-game winning streak by defeating Bethune Cookman, Liberty, Middle Tennessee (three times), ULM (twice), South Alabama, and FIU.
Freshman pitchers Ashley Rainey and Jaycee Affeldt picked up the wins in today's games, as the pair of freshman allowed a combined three runs in 11.2 innings of work.
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TROY 6, CLEVELAND STATE 5 (8 inn.)
Cleveland State would take the lead in the top of the first inning on a throwing error by Troy catcher Hannah Renn. Renn's throw glanced off the helmet of Salena Kauffman as she was advancing to third on a wild pitch by Troy starting pitcher Sarah Thomas/ The throw would end up boucing off Kauffman's helmet into left field and allowed both Kauffman and Calia Ferro to score.
The Trojans would load the bases in the top of the first after a leadoff infield single by catcher Hannah Renn, and back-to-back walks to Hayden Gann and Michelle Hewett. But, Cleveland State pitcher Sara Shields would strike out Ashley Rainey with a full count to end the first inning.
Troy starter Sarah Thomas would last only to the second inning, as the freshman pitched 1.1 innings giving up three runs, three hits, and two walks. The two earned runs given up by Thomas were the first earned runs the freshman has given up through her first six appearances as a Trojan.
Junior Michaela Hamilton would induce an infield fly to give the second out of the inning, but two pitches later Cleveland State designated player Erica McNew would knock an RBI single to right field to give the Vikings a 3-0.
Troy would strike back in the bottom of the second inning after a Sarah Shields walk and Kacie McAllster single to right, Kelly Luquette would double off the wall in right center that would bring home Shields and McAllister.
The Vikings added another run in the top of the third, with a double down the left field line by Afton Allfred scored Dara Toman to push the Vikings' lead to 4-2.
Hamilton would last just one inning, giving up three hits and a run in her second relief appearance in the last two games.
Freshman Ashley Rainey would come in relief and hold the Vikings in check until the Trojans would begin their rally in the bottom of the seventh.
Sophomore Kelly Luquette would reach on dropped fly ball by Cleveland State third baseman in the infield. After the dust, had settled Luquette would end up at second base, with Troy shortstop Nikki Hollett coming to the plate with just one out.
On the very next pitch, Hollett deposited a Sara Shields fast ball over the left field wall to tie the game at 4-4.
Hayden Gann would keep the Troy going with a single to right center to put the go-ahead run on base with just one out. Sarah Harris would move pinch runner Bailey Blake to second on a sacrifice bunt. Rainey would have the opportunity to earn the win with her bat, but Shields got the Tuscaloosa, Ala. Native to ground out to shortstop to end the seventh.
The Vikings would scratch a run across in the eighth inning with two outs as Megan Bashak doubled down the left field line to score Andrea Nagy, who reached on a fielder's choice, to give Cleveland State the lead once again.
Trailing 5-4, with pinch runner Chelsea Eytel on second, Taylor Smartt dropped a bunt attempt that was fielded by Vikings first baseman Dara Toman, who tried to throw Eytel out at third, but her throw sailed left and got past third baseman Nena Doran. Eytel was sent home and scored after umpires ruled that Doran interfered with Eytel advancing home on the play and the game was tied once again, 5-5.
Sarah Shields would follow with a hard-hit single up the middle, advancing Smartt to third with one out.
After Kacie McAllister popped up for the first out, it was all on the shoulders of Troy catcher Hannah Renn.
Renn would drive a Shield's fast ball to left field, which was deep enough for Smartt to score and give Troy's its third-straight comeback win. Renn would lead Troy at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI, while Kelly Luquette would go 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Troy would scatter 10 hits in the throughout the game, while both teams left nine runners on base.
Rainey would earn the victory, pitching the final 5.2 innings. The freshman would allo just one run, while scattering five hits and striking out three; en route to her third win of the season.
TROY 3, TENNESSEE TECH 2
Michelle Hewett put the Trojans on board early with a two-out single to score Nikki Hollett and would give Troy an early 1-0 lead.
Troy starter, Jaycee Affedlt, would hold Tennessee Tech scoreless through the first five innings of her outing, giving up just two hits and striking out four Golden Eagles.
In the sixth inning, Tennessee Tech would take advantage of reaching base on two fielder's choices and a Troy error to take its first lead of the game at 2-1.
With runners on second and third and out, Tennessee Tech shortstop Samantha Everett hit a grounder to second baseman Sarah Shields, who attempted throw out Brooke Basten at the plate, but her throw was wide left of Troy catcher Hannah Renn. The throw by Shields rattled around the backstop and allowing both Basten and Melody Christian to score all the way from second.
Troy would scratch for a run in the bottom half of the sixth as Hayden Gann led off the inning with a double to the right center field gap to start the inning. Michelle Hewett would follow with a line drive double past TTU left fielder Angil Sakamoto to score Gann and tie the game at 2-2.
At the plate, Jaycee Affeldt would get the opportunity earn the victory in the circle by hitting a go-ahead RBI single through the right side to help Troy retake the lead, 3-2.
In the seventh, Affleldt struck out the first Golden Eagle, got the second to pop up to shortstop Bailey Blake, and after allowing an infield single and stolen base to Christian, she would strike out Channelle Spalding to seal Troy's fourth comeback win in the last two days at the Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial.
In her first complete game as a Trojan, Affeldt surrendered just four hits and allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, while striking out seven and walking just one batter.
At the plate, the freshman was 1-for-3 with an RBI and her single to right field would end up being the game-winning hit for Troy.
Michelle Hewett led Troy at the plate in day's second game by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Gann and Renn would add a hit a piece, as Tennessee Tech pitcher Holly Thomas held Troy to just five hits.
The Trojans take on Purdue in the final game at the Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial, Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. CST at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
