Trojans Split to Open Series at FAU

Saturday, April 14

Boca Raton, Fla.

5:00 p.m.

Troy University

Florida Atlantic University

Photo by: Nate Blythe

4/14/2012 9:48:00 PM | Softball

By: Matt Mays

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Trojans picked up a split in Saturday night's doubleheader at Florida Atlantic as they look to win the series in Sunday's rubber match.

For the third straight game the Trojans (26-16, 6-9) picked up 10 hits as they held on the defeat the Owls (13-28, 3-9) in game one, 5-4. However, two untimely errors cost the Trojans in game two as they fell to the Owls, 6-2.

Ashley Rainey got the win in game one while Jaycee Affeldt was tagged with the loss in game two. Sarah Harris picked up five hits on the day with three RBI while Hayden Gann had two RBI in game two with four hits on the day.

The Trojans and Owls will finish up their three-game series with a single contest on Sunday. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m. CST.

For more information in 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, follow Troy Softball on Twitter at @TroySBall.

GAME ONE – Troy 5, Florida Atlantic 4

Rainey (13-8) picked up the win for Troy despite uncharacteristically walking five while giving up four runs on seven hits, but she was picked up by an offense that clicking on all cylinders as of late.\

For the third straight game the Trojans posted 10 hits, including 3-for-3 games from both Kelly Luquette and Harris. Gann was also 2-for-3 for the Trojans.

After stranding one runner in each of the first three innings, Troy finally broke through in the fourth. Gann got things started with a leadoff single, but with two down, the bottom of the Troy lineup kept the inning alive.

Luquette, in the seventh spot in the lineup, kept things alive with a two-out single. Taylor Smartt drew a walk to load the bases before Harris did the damage. The senior, hitting in the ninth spot, delivered a two-RBI single to center to score Gann and Luquette and give Troy a 2-0 lead.

The Trojans extended their lead with two more two-out runs in the fifth, as once again, Gann got things started with a single. Sarah Shields then delivered a two-out RBI double to plate Gann before Luquette singled to score pinch runner Madison Rich and give Troy a 4-0 lead.

An RBI double by Jordan Stovall broke up Rainey's shutout bid in the fifth inning, but the Trojans got the run back in the top of the sixth when Harris hit a leadoff solo home run.

The Owls scored again in the sixth as Rainey helped them keep an inning alive with a two-out walk. Carly Speerin then delivered an RBI double to cut the lead to 5-2.

Rainey and the Trojans had to hold on in the bottom of the seventh as Stephanie Call hit a two-run homer to bring the Owls within one at 5-4 with just one out. Laura Mann then doubled and moved to third on a ground out, but was stranded their as Rainey blew a third strike past Lauren Trembley to close out game one.

Rainey finished with seven strikeouts in the game.

Taylor Fawbush (5-12) was tagged with the loss for Florida Atlantic after giving up five runs, all earned, on 10 hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

GAME TWO – Florida Atlantic 6, Troy 2

Affeldt (8-7) saw her streak of 10.0 innings without allowing a run come to an end as she allowed six in 6.0 innings. Affeldt was the victim of two untimely errors as only two of the runs were earned, but she walked four and was tagged with the loss

Samantha Masser (3-6) picked up the win for Florida Atlantic after giving up two runs in a complete-game effort with six hits.

Hewett, Gann and Harris all had two hits for Troy as Gann had both of the Trojans RBI.

Both sides wasted no time getting on the board in game two as Florida Atlantic took a 2-1 lead to second inning. Troy got their run on a Gann RBI single after Michelle Hewett had doubled, and Florida Atlantic took advantage of a Troy error.

Fawbush scored on a Jordan Stovall RBI single after she should've been out at second on an error by the Trojans. Laura Mann got another RBI single to make it 2-1, but Harris limited the damage by throwing out a runner at the plate.

The Owls would add one in the second inning with a squeeze bunt to make the lead 3-1, but Troy cut it to 3-2 in the third as Gann hit an RBI double off the left center wall to score Hewett from first.

Florida Atlantic added three more runs in the fourth, all unearned thanks to an early-inning error from the Trojans. Heather Barnes picked up one RBI for the Owls while Mann got the other two.