Troy Splits With No. 8 Louisiana-Lafayette, Hand Cajuns First Loss

Saturday, March 24

Troy, Ala.

1:00 p.m.

Troy University

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Photo by: Thomas Graning

Troy Splits With No. 8 Louisiana-Lafayette, Hand Cajuns First Loss

3/24/2012 7:07:00 PM | Softball

The Trojans knocked off the Cajuns in the day's first game, ending Lousiana-Lafayette's 28-game winning streak to start the season.

By: Tyler Pigg

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Photo Gallery

TROY, Ala. – The Troy softball team handed no. 8 Louisiana-Lafayette its first loss of the season as the Trojans and Cajuns split the first two games of a three-game series, Saturday afternoon.

Troy (20-8, 2-3) rallied from a 4-1 deficit and scored eight unanswered runs to take down Louisiana-Lafayette, 9-4, to hand the eighth-ranked Cajuns their first loss in 2012.

The win over the Cajuns in the first game of the day gave the Trojans their third win of the season and second straight victory over a ranked opponent. The victory also gave the Trojans their first win over the Cajuns since 2010, snapping a four-game losing streak to ULL.

Louisiana-Lafayette (29-1, 4-1) took the second game of the doubleheader, 9-1 in five innings. ULL starting pitcher Jordan Wallace shut the Trojans bats down offensively, as the freshman allowed just one run and two hits, while striking out six in the complete game win.

In game one, Troy starter Ashley Rainey allowed four runs in the first two innings, but the freshman settled down allowing just three Cajuns to reach base after the third inning. The Tuscaloosa native picked up her eighth complete game of the season, the second of the week, as Rainey (10-3) struck out two and walked none in the victory.

In the third inning, Hayden Gann's third home run of the season; a solo shot to center field started the rally for the Trojans as the blast cut the ULL lead down to 4-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Troy added four runs to take a 6-4 lead over the Cajuns. Senior left fielder Sarah Harris blasted her first home run of the season over the left field wall to cut the ULL lead down to 4-3.

Three batters later, Nikki Hollett's two-RBI double gave the Trojans their first lead of the game, as the senior went 2-for4 with a run scored in Troy's second Sun Belt win of the season.

The Trojans added three more in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Rainey a 9-4 lead heading to the top of the seventh inning. The freshman made short work of the Cajuns in the top of the seventh allowing one base runner before getting the final two outs to close the door on ULL.

Troy scattered 11 hits off ULL starter Ashley Brignac, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year. Senior second baseman Sarah Shields led the Trojans with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Hollett and Harris both had multi-hit performances against the eighth-ranked Cajuns.

In Game Two, Louisiana-Lafayette scored nine runs in the first three innings and pounded 12 hits to defeat the Trojans, 9-1, in five innings.

Jordan Wallace (15-0) slowed the Troy bats down, allowing just two hits, a single from Shields in the bottom of the second and a triple to Michelle Hewett in the bottom of the fifth.

Jaycee Affeldt (5-5) took the loss for the Trojans, her fourth-straight losing decision, as the freshman allowed seven runs, five earned, on six hits in two innings of work.

Troy and Louisiana-Lafayette are set to close out the series Sunday afternoon, with the rubber game set to start at 1:00 p.m. at the Troy Softball Complex. Admission to all home Troy softball games is free.

For more information on Troy Athletics, be sure to visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics and or become fans on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.