Trojans Down UAB 2-1

Tuesday, April 16

Troy, Ala.

5:00 p.m.

Troy University

UAB

Photo by: Joshua Thurston

4/16/2013 9:04:00 PM | Softball

By: Tyler Pigg

Box Score

TROY, Ala. – In its final non-conference game of the year, Troy picked up the only two runs it needed in the third inning taking advantage of a UAB error and a RBI single by Caitlin Ortiz as the Trojans slid past UAB, 2-1, on Tuesday night at the Troy Softball Complex.

With runners on the corners, a UAB (26-11) error on a bunt popped up by Troy's Kacie McAllister led to Troy (20-23) getting a run across and Caitlin Ortiz's RBI single up the middle gave the Trojans all the runs it needed to knock off the Blazers.

“I'm very proud of the entire team, tonight was just a great team effort and it is always nice to beat an in-state opponent,” head coach Melanie Davis said after Tuesday night's victory. “Hopefully, we can use this win as momentum since we play at home this weekend and heading into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in May.”

Eight of Troy's nine hitters recorded at least one base hit in the one-run victory. Amanda Winters picked up two hits at the plate, while Bailey Blake added a double and finished 1-for-3 with a run scored. Ortiz's single in the third extended the senior's reached base streak to 19 straight games; the second-longest streak by a Trojan since Nikki Hollett's 24-game streak in 2011.

Troy starter Jaycee Affeldt (6-2) earned the win by keeping UAB off-balance at the plate, holding the Blazers off the scoreboard and allowing just five hits in 4.2 innings of work, while picking up a strike out and walking one.

When Troy turned to the bullpen in the fifth inning, Rachel Rigney and Sarah Thomas combined to allow UAB to just two hits over the final 2.1 innings as the duo held UAB off the scoreboard when the Blazers had scoring opportunities in their final three-at bats.
Thomas earned her first save of the season by working the final 1.2 innings allowing just one hit, a walk and picked up her only strikeout to close out the game.

Troy scattered nine hits at the plate off of two Blazer pitchers. UAB's Leigh Streetman (9-6) was hooked for the loss as the Blazers starter gave up just two runs (one earned) and six hits in three innings in the circle. Lannah Campbell slowed the Troy bats down holding the Trojans off the scoreboard over the final three innings and allowing just three hits.

After Bailey Blake doubled to right, an error on bunt attempt with one out by Kacie McAllister with runners on the corners allowed Blake to score to give Troy a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third. Caitlin Ortiz added the second run in the third with an RBI single that rolled past the glove of diving UAB second baseman Heather Pearson and into center field to score Hannah Renn from second base.

UAB's lone run came in the sixth as pinch hitter Haley Davis looped a RBI single off of Rigney into right field over a drawn in Troy infield with the bases loaded to cut the Troy lead down to 2-1 with one out in the sixth inning. Still in a bases-loaded jam, Troy turned to Thomas out of the bullpen and got out of the jam as Chandler Griffin recorded an unassisted double play by corralling a hard-hit line drive and tagging third to end the UAB scoring threat.

Troy finishes up a four-game homestand this weekend with the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers traveling to the Troy Softball Complex for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series. First pitch for Saturday's doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. and the series concludes on Sunday afternoon at noon. Admission to all games at the Troy Softball Complex is free.

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.