Trojans Top Florida A&M to Open Road Trip

Thursday, April 12

Tallahassee, Fla.

2:00 p.m.

Troy University

Florida A&M University

Photo by: Tyler Pigg

4/12/2012 5:07:00 PM | Softball

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Troy's freshman duo of Jaycee Affeldt and Ashley Rainey pitched effectively as the Trojans needed every bit of their insurance runs in a 4-2 defeat of Florida A&M on Thursday.

Affeldt (8-6) picked up the win with four innings of one-hit softball and three strikeouts while Rainey threw the remaining three, giving up a two-run home run in the seventh that proved harmless after Troy was up 4-0 entering the frame.

“It was nice to be able to use both Jaycee and Ashley today,” said head coach Melanie Davis. “It helps keep us from overthrowing them, and it gives Ashley some work so she isn't cold going to Florida Atlantic.”

Nikki Hollett was 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBI thanks to her seventh home run of the season. Caitlin Ortiz and Affeldt also picked up one RBI a piece as Troy picked up 10 hits for the second straight game.

Affeldt finished 3-for-4 at the plate while Sarah Shields also had multiple hits with a 2-for-4 day.

Ashley Minter (2-7) threw six innings for the Lady Rattlers, giving up three runs on eight hits with two strikeouts while being tagged with the loss.

After a scoreless first three innings for both sides, the Trojans drew first blood in the top of the fourth inning. With two down, Minter seemed to be out of the inning, but the tide turned on the Lady Rattlers starter in a hurry.

Shields put the first pitch she saw into left field for an opposite field single to get things going. On the very next pitch, Hollett hit her seventh home run of the season, this one over the left-center wall to give Troy a 2-0 lead on two pitches.

Affeldt followed with a single, but was stranded at first as Troy took the 2-0 lead into the bottom of the frame. Affeldt gave up a leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth, but a double play erased the threat as Affeldt finished her final inning of the contest.

Rainey came on in the fifth, and after an error and a single put two on, she picked up a ground out and a strikeout to preserve the shutout.

The Trojans got a very important insurance run in the sixth inning when Ortiz delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to plate Hollett, who had earlier singled, giving the Trojans a 3-0 lead.

Affeldt picked up an RBI single with the bases loaded in the seventh to drive in Hayden Gann and give Troy the 4-0 lead.

Whitney Robinson hit a two-run home run with one down in the seventh inning to break up Troy's shutout and make the final score 4-2.

The Trojans return to the field on Saturday when they start a three-game Sun Belt series at Florida Atlantic. The Trojans and Owls will play a doubleheader at 5:00 p.m. CST on Saturday and a single game at 11:00 a.m. CST on Sunday.

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