Troy University Athletics
Trojans Fall to LSU at the Purple and Gold Challenge
3/9/2012 10:31:00 PM | Softball
BATON ROUGE, La. – Friday night, the Troy softball team had its opportunities against LSU in the nightcap of the Purple and Gold Challenge, but the Trojans left 10 runners on base and struck out 10 times in the 6-3 loss to the Tigers.
The ten strikeouts by Troy (16-3) tied a season-high and the 10 runners left on base fell one short of a season-high.
LSU starting pitcher Brittany Mack would surrender nine hits in the circle, but notched 10 strikeouts to earn her fifth win of the season.
Jaycee Affeldt took the loss for the Trojans, as the freshman pitched five innings, giving up six runs, four earned, on
With two outs in the top of the first, LSU got two runs off Affeldt (5-2). Ashley Langoni scored on throwing error to second base by Troy catcher Kacie McAllister, who was trying to cut down LSU's Juliana Santos stealing second base.
LSU (13-7) first baseman Dylan Supak's RBI single brought in Santos and gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.
Affeldt held LSU scoreless through the next three innings, working around a jam in the third inning to hold deficit at just two runs.
Offensively, Troy had multiple opportunities in the first and fourth innings. Both at-bats, Troy would leave two runners on base, as LSU pitcher Brittany Mack would work around the jam. Mack registered nine strikeouts through the first five innings.
In the top of the fifth, Troy would cut the LSU lead to 2-1, as Nikki Hollett scored from second on a fielder's choice by Hayden Gann.
But, the Tigers would strike right back in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run home run to right center off the bat of second baseman Allison Falcon to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead.
LSU third baseman Tammy Wray would hit a line drive off the glove of Troy left fielder Sarah Harris with two outs in the fifth, which scored Langoni and Santos to push the Tigers lead to 6-1.
Troy added a run in the fourth as Nikki Hollett, who doubled down the left field line to open the inning, scored on an error on a pickoff attempt by LSU catcher Lauren Houston, to bring the deficit down to 6-2.
An error by Falcon at second base on a throw trying to turn a double play allowed Gann to score from second to make it 6-3. But with two outs, Mack got Troy second baseman Sarah Shields to foul to Wray to end the game.
Michelle Hewett extended her hitting streak to 13 games by going 2-for-4 at the plate. Jaycee Affeldt and Hayden Gann both had two hits for the Trojans. Hollett, Shields, and McAllister added hits in the loss.
Troy takes on Mississippi Valley State, Saturday morning, at 11:00 a.m. in the first game of the day at the Purple and Gold Challenge. The Trojans will get a rematch with LSU tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at Tiger Park.
For more information on Troy softball check back with TroyTrojans.com. For updates on Troy softball follow @TroyAthletics, @TroySball, or @iamtylerpigg.
