Trojans Win 10-Inning Thriller, Capture Sweep

Sunday, April 22

Troy, Ala.

1:00 p.m.

Troy University

Middle Tennessee State University

Photo by: Edward Fieder

Trojans Win 10-Inning Thriller, Capture Sweep

4/22/2012 4:25:00 PM | Softball

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

TROY, Ala. – Troy had to come from behind twice, but they did just that in a thrilling 10-inning win over Middle Tennessee, 6-5, on Sunday to capture their first Sun Belt series sweep of the season.

The win is the fifth straight for Troy and their eighth in the last nine games heading into a big mid-week non-conference game at Alabama on Wednesday.

Ashley Rainey (17-8) got the start for Troy (31-16, 10-9) but left the game trailing 3-0 after four innings. She reentered in the eighth inning with Troy down 5-3 and pitched a perfect three innings to pick up the win. Jaycee Affeldt pitched three effective innings in relief, but gave up a two-run home run in the eighth that nearly cost Troy the sweep.

Rainey picked Affeldt up by hitting a two-run home run of her own in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie things up for the second time, this time at 5-5.

Hayden Gann was a perfect 5-for-5 for the Trojans who pounded a season-high 19 hits. Bailey Blake and Nikki Hollett each had three hits, including a walk-off single from Hollett in the tenth inning.

Shelby Stinnett (5-9) pitched 4.2 innings of relief for the Blue Raiders (13-30, 3-15) but was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs on 10 hits. Caty Juston started for Middle Tennessee and also gave up three runs over five innings, allowing Troy to come back the first time.

Troy trailed 3-0 before scoring a single run in the fourth and two in the sixth off of Jutson to tie the game. Troy trailed again, 5-3, in the eighth inning before Rainey's shot rejuvenated the Trojans.

The Blue Raiders struck first with a single score in the top of the first inning as Kelsey Woodruff's RBI double scored Chelsea Good, who walked with one out, from second base.

Rainey settled in and retired nine straight Blue Raiders after the RBI double before two pitches cost the freshman two more runs in the fourth inning. Nina Dever hit a double to the left center gap on the first pitch she saw while Natalie Ysais hit the first pitch she saw over the left field fence to give Middle Tennessee a 3-0 lead.

Troy cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Hannah Renn hit a one-out solo home run to break up Jutson's shutout and cut the lead to 3-1.

Like they did in the fifth inning on Saturday, Troy got to Jutson in the sixth inning on Sunday as they plated two runs to tie the game at 3-3 moving to the seventh inning. Hollett's double led off the inning.

Renn hit an infield single to third base that moved Hollett to third, but Middle Tennessee tried to get Renn at first and the throw was low, getting past the first baseman. Hollett scored on the bad throw and Renn moved all the way to third base.

She was there when Sarah Shields delivered an RBI single to centerfield to score Renn and tie the game at 3-3. Gann followed with another infield single that chased Jutson for Stinnett. Stinnett shut down the Trojans and pushed a tie game into the seventh inning.

Affeldt had retired eight straight before giving up a leadoff double in the eighth inning followed by Woodruff's sixth home run of the season to give Middle Tennessee a 5-3 lead. Nina Dever followed with a single that chased Affeldt and allowed Rainey to reenter to the game.

Troy didn't back down, getting both runs back in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to Rainey's heroics. Gann led off with her fourth hit of the game, a single. With one down and the count full, Rainey then delivered a two-run blast to right center to tie the game again, this time at 5-5.

Troy finally broke through in the 10th inning as Blake's third single of the day got things started with one out. She moved to second on Hewett's single, but was caught stealing at third base on a double steal that left Hewett at second with two down.

Kelly Luquette kept the inning alive with a two-out single to put runners on the corners before Hollett singled up the middle to score Hewett and give Troy the thrilling 6-5 win.

The Trojans return to action on Wednesday when they travel to take on Alabama. Troy returns home next weekend when they host North Texas in a three-game Sun Belt series, marking the Trojans last home games of the season.

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.