Late Inning Heroics Push Troy Past Southern Miss

Tuesday, April 1

Troy, Ala.

4:00 p.m.

Troy University

15-22-2

Southern Miss.

19-17

Southern Miss

Troy

Photo by: Jonah Enfinger

Late Inning Heroics Push Troy Past Southern Miss

4/1/2014 10:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Joe St. Pierre

Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2

TROY, Ala. – After a tough loss in game one, the Troy softball team (16-22-2) bounced back to defeat Southern Miss (19-18) in extra innings in game two. Heather Johnston provided the extra-inning heroics with a walk-off single in the eighth.

"The biggest struggle that this team has been having this season has been hitting the ball, and we went out and got 10 hits in the first game and 10 hits in the second," said head coach Melanie Davis. "We didn't know how to take care of the leads. We were ahead in both games but couldn't hold on. Hopefully we can keep swinging the bats to have leads to take care of and hopefully we can learn the importance of taking care of leads."

The Trojans led in game one, but could not hold on for the win. After allowing Southern Miss to come back and tie the score in the top of the seventh in game two, Johnston came up huge with a pinch-hit single to take the win in the eighth.

Johnston picked up her sixth pinch-hit hit of the season and is now batting .500 (6-for-12) in pinch-hit situations. She is also hitting a scorching .421 with runners in scoring position.

The Trojans head out to Monroe, La., to take on the Warhawks of ULM for a three-game series, beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Troy 4, Southern Miss 6 (Game 1)

Troy jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third but couldn't hold on, eventually falling 6-4.

Taylor Smartt led off the second with a single to left field and advanced to second on a walk to Kacie McAllister. Both would then move up after a wild pitch, and then come home on an two-RBI single by Becca Hartley.

The Trojans would add two more in the third. Ebony Wright came home on a single by Michelle Phelps, who then came home on a single by Smartt.

The Golden Eagles took the lead in the fourth. Southern Miss would plate five in the inning, with four being unearned, then add another in the fifth to take the 6-4 win.

Ashley Rainey took the loss after giving up one earned run in 3.2 innings. Sara Mock was solid in relief yet again, striking out three and allowing one run in 3.1 innings of work.

Wright finished the game with three hits and one run scored, while Smartt and Hartley each picked up a pair of hits.

Troy 6, Southern Miss 7 (8 innings) (Game 2)

The Trojans rebounded, taking a 7-6 win in eight innings in game two.

Hartley led off game two with a bomb to left-center, her second home run of her career.

The Golden Eagles would level the score in the top of the third with an RBI single to center field.

The Trojans exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third, all coming with two outs. McAllister led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Chelsea Eytel. After a fly out, Wright picked up a single. Phelps would then drive both McAllister and Wright home with a double to left center.

Davis roped a single to plate Phelps and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a walk to Smartt, Winters brought both home to give Troy a 6-1 lead.

Southern Miss leveled the score in the top of the seventh, scoring four in the inning.

Johnston came up big in the bottom of the eighth, picking up a walk-off single, plating McAllister to take the win.

Troy's top four hitters each finished with a hit, while its top five hitters each scored once.

Sarah Thomas was solid in the circle, allowing just three hits while striking out six over five innings. Mock got the win, after picking up four strikeouts in two 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.