Troy University Athletics
Troy University
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Trojans To Open Up Sun Belt Play at ULM
3/13/2012 3:05:00 PM | Softball
MONROE, La. - After a tough weekend at the Purple and Gold Challenge, the Troy softball team heads to Monroe, Louisiana to open up Sun Belt Conference play on Wednesday against the ULM Warhawks.
Troy (17-5) enters the contest, looking to rebound after an 1-3 performance at the Purple and Gold Challenge in Baton Rouge, La. Last weekend, offensively, Troy scored just eight runs in four games. Four of those runs came in the Trojans' lone victory, a 4-3 comeback win against Mississippi Valley State.
Senior first baseman Hayden Gann and freshman pitcher Ashley Rainey were named to the 2012 Purple and Gold Challenge for their performances, last weekend.
Gann, recorded the game-winning hit against the Mississippi Valley State Devilettes on Sunday, as the senior ripped a one-out double to left center, that scored sophomore Kacie McAllister to earn the win. Gann hit .357 last weekend, including a 3-for-4 performance against the Devilettes in the tournament finale.
Ashley Rainey continued with good work in the circle, as the Tuscalossa, Ala. native went 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA. Rainey allowed just three earned runs in 13.2 innings of work at the Purple and Gold Challenge. Against LSU, Rainey held the Tigers scorless through the first six innings, before allowing one unearned run in the seventh inning in Troy's 1-0 loss. Against Mississippi Valley State, Rainey picked up her sixth complete game, allowing three runs in her ninth start of the season.
ULM (12-10, 0-3) is coming off a weekend where the Warhawks were swept by the South Alabama Jaguars in Mobile. ULM fell to the Jaguars, 2-1 in nine innings, in the first game of the series. South Alabama's stick warmed up in the second game of the Series as the Jaguars knocked off ULM 7-2 and 10-1 in the final two games.
Last season, the Warhawks took two of three from the Trojans. ULM's two wins at the Troy Softball Complex were the first wins by the Warhawks on Troy's home turf in school history.
Wednesday, Troy and ULM will play a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the ULM Softball Complex. The Trojans and Warhawks will finish out the series on Thursday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.
Troy returns home Wednesday, March 21, to face the 20th-ranked Auburn Tigers at 6:00 p.m at the Troy Softball Complex.
For live stats of tomorrow's doubleheader against ULM, make sure to check back with TroyTrojans.com. For live in-game updates as the Trojans take on the Warhawks from Monroe, La. make sure to follow @TroySBall and @iamtylerpigg on Twitter.
GAMEDAY STORYLINES
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Troy travels to Monroe, La. for a midweek, three-game series with the University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.
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Last weekend, the Trojans picked up just one win at the Purple and Gold Challenge, as Troy defeated Mississippi Valley State, 4-3, Sunday.
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Senior first baseman Hayden Gann and freshman pitcher Ashley Rainey were named to the All- Tournament Team for their performances, last weekend.
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Senior Michelle Hewett's season-high 13-game hitting streak was snapped by Mississippi Valley State on Saturday. Hewett's streak was the longest streak of her career.
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After being named Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season, Ashley Rainey continued with her string of strong outings in the circle at the Purple and Gold Challenge, as the freshman went 1-1 with 2.05 ERA in two starts.
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Despite the rough weekend in Baton Rouge, Troy is still off to its best start in program history. The 17 wins the Trojans have is the most through 22 games in school history.
