Trojans Split with Georgia State

Saturday, March 29

Troy, Ala.

2:30 p.m.

Troy University

14-20-2, 0-5

Georgia State

15-17, 1-3

Georgia State

Troy

Photo by: Jonah Enfinger

3/29/2014 8:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Joe St. Pierre

Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2

TROY, Ala – The Trojan bats came alive on Saturday, as Troy (15-20-2, 1-5 SBC) picked up a split with Georgia State (15-18, 1-4 SBC). The Trojans dropped the first game, 6-4, but came back to win the second 9-6.

"I think it really has paid dividends for our kids to be in the cage," said head coach Melanie Davis. "They're able to get their extra cuts in, put in work on their own. I always told them all year long, once we break it open that I think they're going to come in bunches and that was the case today. We just have to find a way to keep that going tomorrow and let that momentum carry us into the remainder of the season."

The Trojans were held off the board for the first six innings of the first game, but picked up four in the bottom of the sixth. They went on to score nine in game two.

Amanda Winters had a tremendous day, going 4-for-7 at the plate with two walks, 3 RBIs and two runs scored.

The Trojans wrap up the series with the Panthers tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at the Troy Softball Complex.

Troy 4, Georgia State 6 (Game One)

A furious seventh inning rally came up just short, as the Trojans fell to the Panthers, 6-4, in game one of the double-header. Troy trailed 6-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh but used back-to-back home runs to narrow the deficit.

Jaycee Affeldt took the loss after pitching five innings and allowing five runs while striking out eight. It is the third consecutive game that Affeldt has struck out at least eight batters. Sara Mock was solid in relief, allowing two hits and just one unearned run over two innings.

Georgia State struck first with a solo home run in the second. The Panthers would add two more in the fifth with a two-run shot by Ashley Christy, and three more in the sixth.

The Trojans cut the lead in the seventh. Ebony Wright reached on an error and advanced to second following a walk to Erica Davis. Next up, Amanda Winters crushed her fifth home run of the season. Michelle Phelps got in on the action next, hitting her fifth home run of the year to left center.

Troy 9, Georgia State 6 (Game Two)

The Trojans kept the momentum from the final inning of game one alive, scoring nine runs to defeat the Panthers 9-6.

Troy got on the board early and often, beginning in the second inning. Winters drew a walk to start off the inning, followed by a single to left field by Phelps. After Mackenzie Kayler reached on an error, Chelsea Eytel brought home Winters with an RBI single to right field. Phelps would then score on a throwing error by the center fielder two batters later.

The Trojans would add four more in the third. Taylor Smartt drew a walk to get started and was pinch-run for by Leah Brundidge. Winters then picked up a single. Both runners would then advance on a groundout, and then come home on a two-out, two-RBI single by Kayler.

Eytel got in on the action, plating Kayler with a double to left-center field. Eytel would then come home on a single by Becca Hartley.

Georgia State would narrow the deficit with three runs in the top of the third on back-to-back home runs.

Taylor Smartt put the Trojans up 7-3 in the bottom of the fourth, blasting her first home run of the season to center field.

The Panthers fought their way back again, this time with a three-run home run in the top of the fifth, cutting the Trojan advantage to 7-6.

Kayler gave Troy some insurance with a two-run blast to left field in the bottom of the sixth, putting Troy up 9-6.

Ashley Rainey got the start and the win, allowing three earned runs in 4.2 innings. Mock got the save after striking out four in 2.1 innings of work.

Fans can keep up with all the action by following Troy softball on Twitter at @TroySBall.

For more information on all of Troy Athletics, fans can find the Trojans on Twitter and Instagram at @TroyAthletics, or on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TroyAthletics.