Troy University Athletics
Troy University
University of Louisiana at Monroe
ULM Rallies to Knock Off Troy in Series Finale
3/15/2012 7:41:00 PM | Softball
MONROE, La. – With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, ULM's Haley McCall belted a three-run home run in the sixth inning to give the Warhawks, a 5-3 win over the Troy softball team.
McCall's home run was a part of four-running in which saw ULM take the lead for the first time in the game. In the seventh, ULM pitcher Haylie Wilson retired the Trojans in order to secure the Warhawks second-staight conference victory over Troy.
The win also gave the Warhawks (14-11, 2-4) their second-straight conference series win over Troy. ULM lost the first game to Troy last season at the Troy Softball Complex and went on to win the last two games of the series.
The loss pushes Troy's record to 1-2 in the Sun Belt and it was the Trojans first loss in a game this season where the Trojans led going into the final three innings.
The Trojans (18-7, 1-2) took command early scoring two runs in the top of the second inning.
Ashley Rainey's sacrifice fly to deep center brought in Hayden Gann from third to put Troy up 1-0.
Madison Rich made it 2-0 Troy, as the freshman making her first career start in right field, reached base on an error by ULM shortstop Kayla Boening allowed Caitlin Ortiz to score.
Troy's bats would settle down though, as Haylie Wilson would not allow a Trojan to reach base until the top of the sixth, as the freshman sat down 11 straight hitters.
Ashley Rainey cruised through the first four innings, keeping the Warhawks hitless and off the scoreboard. Making her third start in the last four games, the freshman struck out one and walked two.
Jaycee Affeldt replaced Rainey in the circle in the fifth, after Rainey's no-hit bid was broken up by ULM designated player Charlotte Pastor.
Haley McCall's one-out single cut the Troy lead down to 2-1, as the junior's RBI single to right field brought in Pastor.
Taylor Smartt made it 3-1 Troy with an RBI single to right field that brought in Gann.
But, it was ULM's four-spot in the bottom of the sixth that propelled the Warhawks to a 5-3 comeback win. Roxy Cassel's RBI single cut the Troy lead down to 3-2 with no outs. Rainey, who re-entered the game in the circle for Affeldt, picked up the next two outs, but then allowed the home run to McCall on a 2-2 count.
Rainey (8-3) picked up the loss, tossing 5.1 innings in all, giving up four hits and three walks, while surrendering just four hits.
Wilson (7-2) picked up the complete game win for ULM, allowing just three runs, two earned, on just two hits.
Gann and Smartt recorded the only two hits for Troy on the afternoon. Gann was 1-for-2 at the plate with a walk and two runs scored, while Smartt was 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Troy returns home on Wednesday, March 21, to take on the 18th-ranked Auburn Tigers at the Troy Softball Complex with first pitch set for 6:00 p.m.
You can watch all home games on TroyTrojans.com, by clicking on the All-Access link.
For complete coverage of Trojan baseball, follow @iamtylerpigg and @TroySBall on Twitter and become fans of the Trojans on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TroyAthletics.
