Hamilton Earns Win in Relief; Troy Knocks Off FIU 5-4

Sunday, April 14

Miami, Fla.

11:00 a.m.

Troy University

FIU

Photo by: Cass Davis

Hamilton Earns Win in Relief; Troy Knocks Off FIU 5-4

4/14/2013 2:27:00 PM | Softball

By: Tyler Pigg

Box Score

MIAMI – Michaela Hamilton was solid in relief to earn her fifth win of the season and Kacie McAllister delivered a timely two-out RBI single to right field in the sixth as Troy knocked off FIU 5-4 on Sunday at the FIU Softball Complex.

Hamilton threw the final four innings to pick up the victory in relief of Troy starter Sarah Thomas. Despite allowing five hits, Hamilton worked around bases-loaded jams in the fourth and in the sixth, while giving up just one run that came in the bottom of

the seventh with a two-out RBI double by FIU's Jessi Alfonso.

In the sixth, McAllister's line drive single to right field scored Bailey Blake, who walked and stole second, to give Troy a 4-3 lead. The Trojans added an insurance run two batters later with a Chandler Griffin RBI single into left field that scored McAllister to put Troy on top 5-3.

At the plate, McAllister finished 1-for-1 with a single, sacrifice fly and two RBIs. Griffin finished with a 2-for-4 day at the plate with two singles and a RBI, while Blake was 1-for-2, scoring twice and picking up her 15^th stolen base of the season. Caitlin Ortiz finished 1-for-3 with an RBI in the win.

Despite FIU getting the leadoff runner aboard in each inning, Troy's defense was solid and cut down three runners at the plate with the bases loaded to save three runs from scoring.

After falling behind, Troy picked up a pair of runs in the top of the third inning to tie the game at 2-2. With runners at second and third, Kacie McAllister's RBI sacrifice fly to left field plated Blake who walked to start the inning. Next up, Caitlin Ortiz tied the game by ripping a RBI single to center that plated Hannah Renn, who reached base on infield single.

FIU retook the lead in the bottom of the third and had another scoring opportunity in the fourth by loading the bases. The Trojans turned Hamilton out of the bullpen as the southpaw rolled a pair of ground balls to cut runners down at the plate and Taylor Smartt snagged line drive for the third out to get out of the jam, holding FIU off the scoreboard.

Troy capitalized on three FIU errors in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3. After Renn reached on an error and Kacie McAllister drew a walk, a pop up to shallow left field off the bat of Chandler Griffin bounced out of the glove of FIU shortstop Kayla Burri to load the bases for Troy.

The third error of the inning allowed Renn to score from third and tie the game as a hard-hit ground ball to shortstop rolled in to center field, but it was corralled by FIU second baseman Brie Rojas in time to throw out McAllister at the plate after the junior attempted to score from second for the second out.

After Troy picked up a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, FIU loaded the bases once again in the sixth with a two singles to start the seventh and a Troy error with one out that loaded the bases. Hamilton once again, rolled a ground ball to Blake at short to cut down the lead runner at the plate and Keelie Housley made a running catching on a line drive off the bat to end the sixth.

In the bottom of the seventh, FIU cut the Troy lead down to 5-4 on a two-double off the center field wall by Alfonso, but Hamilton coaxed a ground ball to end the game.

The Trojans host in-state rival UAB for a midweek contest with first pitch set for 5 p.m. at the Troy Softball Complex on Tuesday.

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, follow Troy Softball on Twitter at @TroySBall.