Troy Softball Beats UT Martin in Extras

Saturday, March 8

Orlando, Fla.

8:00 a.m.

Troy University

12-10-2

UT Martin

8-12-1

UT Martin

Troy

Photo by: Joshua Thurston

3/8/2014 10:44:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

By: Joe St. Pierre

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. – For the second straight game the Troy softball team (12-10-2) went to extra innings, and for the second straight game the Trojans came out on top, this time 8-7 over UT Martin (8-12-1) at the UCF Knights Spring Fling.

Rachel Rigney drove in the game-winning run in the eighth, giving Troy back-to-back, extra-inning wins. Rigney fouled out to left field, but Alison Milam was able to tag up from third to give Troy the win.

The Trojans had battled back from four runs down in the bottom of the seventh to level the score on a grand slam by Amanda Winters.

Taylor Smartt had a tremendous day at the plate, going 3-of-3 with one RBI and one run.

Sara Mock got the start in the circle, striking out four in four innings. Jaycee Affeldt came in in relief again and pitched four innings, picking up three strikeouts.

UT Martin got on the board first with an RBI double in the second.

The Trojans would respond with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Ashley Rainey led off with a single and was pinch-run for by Bria Epps. Epps then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Epps then came home on an RBI single by Smartt.

Amanda Winters came up next and singled up the middle, followed by another single by Kacie McAllister. Ebony Wright picked up an RBI single next, driving in Winters. Alison Milam then brought home McAllister with a sacrifice bunt.

The Skyhawks responded by reclaiming the lead on a three-run home run by Stephanie Nidiffer. They would add two more in the sixth and one in the seventh to take a 7-3 lead.

Michelle Phelps led off the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle, followed by a single by Rainey. Smartt was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Next up, Winters crushed her first home run of the season, leveling the score at seven apiece.

The Trojans took the win in the eighth, with Milam scoring on a foul-out by Rigney. Milam had began the inning on second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Erica Davis.

The Trojans wrap up competition at the UCF Knights Spring Fling with a pair of games on Sunday, against Western Carolina at 8 a.m. and UCF at 12:30 p.m.

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.