Trojans Can't Avoid Sweep on Senior Day

Sunday, April 29

Troy, Ala.

11:00 a.m.

Troy University

University of North Texas

Photo by: Nate Blythe

4/29/2012 1:32:00 PM | Softball

By: Matt Mays

Box Score

TROY, Ala. – A pitcher's duel early turned into a comeback win for North Texas as the Troy softball team couldn't avoid a series sweep, falling to the Mean Green, 4-3, at the Troy Softball Complex on Senior Day.

Ashley Rainey (17-11) held North Texas scoreless for four innings, then was the victim of two unearned runs in the fifth, andgave up four straight singles and two runs in the sixth as North Texas took the lead.

Hayden Gann, who was 2-for-3, gave the Trojans a 3-0 lead in the fourth with a home run after Ashley Kirk (10-11) had been perfect through three innings.

Kirk went the distance on the day, giving up just four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks as Caitlin Grimes and Jordan Terry each had two hits at the plate for North Texas.

Rainey finished with 5.2 innings pitched with four runs, two earned, on eight hits and one walk. Jaycee Affeldt came on after North Texas' fourth single in the sixth and gave up just one walk over the final 1.1.

Kirk was perfect through three innings before Gann and the Trojans struck in the fourth. Kirk walked Hannah Renn and Nikki Hollett before leaving a pitch high for Gann who hit her seventh home run of the season. The blast over the left field porch gave the Trojans a 3-0 lead.

The Mean Green got two of the runs back in the fifth inning thanks to two Troy errors to cut the Trojans' lead to one at 3-2.

Rainey ran into her first trouble of the game in the top of the sixth as a one-out walk, followed by four straight singles gave North Texas a 4-3 lead and chase Rainey. Affeldt came in and shut the door on North Texas to keep the Trojans within one.

The Trojans threatened with two outs in the seventh as Caitlin Ortiz delivered a pinch-hit double to left centerfield. However, Kirk got Kelly Luquette to fly out and the Trojans fell 4-3.

The Trojans return to the diamond when they travel to South Alabama for a doubleheader on Saturday, marking the final games of the regular season. The Trojans then travel to Boca Raton, Fla., for the Sun Belt Championships that begin on Wednesday, May 9.

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.