Trojans Split with FIU on Saturday

Saturday, March 31

Troy, Ala.

5:00 p.m.

Troy University

Florida International University

Photo by: Tyler Pigg

3/31/2012 11:17:00 PM | Softball

By: Matt Mays

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

TROY, Ala. – After a delayed start, the Troy softball team split their Saturday doubleheader with FIU at the Troy Softball Complex. The Trojans fell in fame one, 6-4, before winning game two, 6-5.

The Trojans (21-11, 3-6) gave up five runs in the first inning of game one as starter Sarah Thomas struggled, but Nikki Hollett led a furious comeback that game up just short.

In game two, Troy went up early, 2-0, but allowed FIU (16-15, 4-2) to score five runs in the fifth. Again, they came from behind and this time they completed the effort with a 6-5 win.

“I was really proud of how our kids came back in both games,” said head coach Melanie Davis. “I was proud to see Nikki Hollett get on track today.

“Sarah Thomas has a great future ahead of her, and we felt she earned her opportunity to start today. Unfortunately, she walked a couple of batters and never really got into a groove. She's going to be a big part of this pitching staff and I know she'll hold her head up.”

The Trojans return to the field on Sunday when they close their series with FIU. The Trojans and Panthers are set to get under way at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information on TroyAthletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find Troy on Twitter at @TroyAthletics or become fans on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics. For in-game updates from the Troy Softball Complex, follow Troy Softball on Twitter at @TroySBall.

GAME ONE – FIU 6, TROY 4

Troy fell into an early 5-0 hole, and despite 7.0 innings of one-run relief from Jaycee Affeldt and four RBIs from Nikki Hollett, they couldn't complete the comeback in a 6-4 loss.

Sarah Thomas (3-1) was charged with her first loss of the season as she faced just five batters in the first inning and couldn't record an out as FIU scored five runs thanks to three hits.

The Panthers loaded the bases on two walks and an infield single before two, two-run singles gave them a 4-0 lead and chased Thomas. Affeldt surrendered a sacrifice fly that gave FIU their fifth run but got the Trojans out of the inning with no further damage.

The Panthers added another run in the third inning thanks to two Troy errors and an RBI infield single, however, the Trojans didn't go away as Affeldt kept them in the game with some stellar work.

Hannah Renn was hit by a pitch to open the third inning and a long single by Michelle Hewett put two on with nobody out for Troy slugger Nikki Hollett. Hollett worked Dawson to a 3-0 count, and after a wild pitch, first base was open.

However, Dawson left the 3-0 pitch over the heart of the plate and Hollett blasted a line drive homer over the left field to cut the Trojans' deficit in half, 6-3. The Trojans continued to make noise in the inning but stranded Affeldt at third and Sarah Harris at second after they singled and doubles, respectively.

Hollett got the Trojans another run in fourth as she delivered an RBI double that scored Hewett and cut the Panthers' lead to 6-4. Hewett took Renn's place at first base after a fielder's choice following Renn's second walk of the game.

Affeldt continued to deal, but the Trojans left nine runners on base throughout the game as they dropped their fourth game in a row.

GAME TWO – TROY 6, FIU 5

The Trojans jumped up early but had to come from behind in game two as they picked up a 6-5 win to even the series. Leading 2-0, the Trojans gave up five runs in the fifth inning but scored four themselves between the fifth and sixth and took the one-run decision.

Ashley Rainey (11-5) went the distance for the Trojans, giving up five runs, three earned, on eight hits with just one walk.

Hayden Gann went 2-for-4 and Hollett posted two RBI.

This time it was the Trojans that got ahead early as Hollett hit a two-run homer in the first inning, plating herself and Hewett who was walked. The homer was the second of the day for Hollett and the 38th of her career, tying Hollett with Heidi Johnson for the second most in Troy history.

After Gniadek and Rainey settled in for a few innings, FIU broke through for five runs in the fifth inning thanks to four hits and one Troy error. The Panthers loaded the bases with a walk and two singles before a controversial play at the plate gave them their first run.

FIU then got a two-run single to take a 3-2 lead before a wild pitch gave them a 4-2 lead and an RBI single capped off the inning.

The Trojans didn't back down though as they answered with two runs, both with two outs, in the bottom of the frame. Renn got things started with a single, and after two down, she stole second base. Gann then delivered an RBI single to cut the lead to 5-3.

After Affeldt singled to move Gann into scoring position, Sarah Shields delivered an RBI single to cut the FIU lead to one at 5-4.

Mariah Dawson (12-7) came in to close out the Troy fifth inning, but struggled in the sixth and picked up the loss.

The Trojans completed the comeback with two more runs in the sixth as Harris started things off with a single. She moved to second on a Chelsea Eytel sacrifice bunt before Hewett laced a triple down the right field line to tie the score at 5-5.

Hewett would score two batters later on an FIU error off of a Hollett grounder that gave Troy the 6-5 lead.

Rainey closed things out in the seventh to pick up her ninth complete game of the season.