Troy University Athletics
Troy University
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Trojans Shutout Chattanooga, Win Red and Blue Classic
3/4/2012 3:05:00 PM | Softball
Ashley Rainey picked up Troy's second straight shutout, as the Trojans scattered nine hits and scored six runs in the first four innings in the win.
OXFORD, Miss. – The Troy softball team's hot bats combined with arm of Ashley Rainey propelled Troy to the Red and Blue Classic Championship on Sunday afternoon.
Ashley Rainey would hold Chattanooga (10-8) scoreless , extending Troy's opponents scoreless streak to 17-straight innings and unlike yesterday, the Trojans got the bats going early against Chattanooga. Troy (16-2) has not allowed a run to score since the fourth innning of Saturday's Chattanooga game, the streak spans over three games.
Nikki Hollett put Troy on the board as the senior scored on two errors by Chattanooga catcher Natalie Powers and center fielder Cheyenne Willis on a pickoff attempt to second allowed the senior to cross the plate.
Hayden Gann's one-out triple off Chattanooga starter Michelle Fuzzard gave Troy an early 2-0 lead, as the senior's second-career three-bagger plated Jaycee Affeldt.
In the bottom of the second, Troy added two more runs with a two-run home run to deep right center field off the bat of Michelle Hewett to put the Trojans on top 4-0.
The Trojans kept the runs coming in the third and made it 5-0, with Madison Rich, who pinch ran for Jaycee Affeldt, scored on a passed ball by Powers.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, a Hewett groundout scored Kacie McAllister from third to give Troy a 6-0. McAllister reached base on an error by Chattanooga third baseman and allowed McAllister to get all the way to third with no outs.
Six runs was plenty for Ashley Rainey, who allowed just two hits through the first five innings, back-to-back singles by Chattanooga's Vivian Morimoto and Jessica Traxler in the top of the second inning.
The Lady Mocs would get two hits from Michelle Fuzzard and Kasey Tydingco, but Rainey would go to work in the circle as the freshman got two great defensive plays on a lineout to left fielder Sarah Harris and a ground out to Sarah Shields to end Chattanooga's sixth inning.
Rainey picked up her third complete game of the year, as the freshman shutout the Mocs by allowing just four hits, striking out two, and walking none in the outing. For the weekend, Rainey pitched 17.2 innings in four appearances, allowing just three runs while striking out 10. At the plate, Rainey was 6-for-12 with two doubles and three RBIs.
Hewett extended her hitting streak to 12 games with her second home run of the season, the longest by any Trojan player this season. The senior batted .450 at the Red and Blue Classic, with a home run, three doubles, and drove in five RBIs while soring five runs.
Eight of Troy's nine starters recorded hits in the win, as senior Nikki Holett and freshman Jaycee Affeldt picked up two hits a piece.
The Trojans have won five games in a row, and 11 out of the last 12 contests. Troy's 16 wins through 18 games continue to give the Trojans their best start in program history.
The Trojans have the midweek off and travel to Baton Rouge, La. to face LSU and Mississippi Valley State at the Purple and Gold Challenge, next Friday, March 9.
Check back with TroyTrojans.com for more updates on softball. Follow the official account of the Troy softball team on Twitter, @TroySball. For updates on Troy athletics, follow @TroyAthletics.
