Troy Softball Falls to Lipscomb in Extras

Friday, February 24

Troy, Ala.

5:30 PM

Troy University

8-3

Lipscomb

8-4

Lipscomb

Troy

2/24/2017 10:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Grace Bolin

TROY, Alabama- Troy fell to Lipscomb 8-6 in extra innings on Friday at the Troy Softball Complex in its first game of the Troy Classic. The Trojans move to 8-3 on the season.

Troy put up three straight innings of strong defense and scored runs in the first three innings to jump out to an early lead. The Trojans got on the board early in the game as they posted two runs in the first inning. Early walks put Becca Hartley and Katie Webb on base for Troy and hits from Meg Willis and Erica Davis scored the two runners on base.

In the second inning, Troy went three up, three down on defense and was able to score one run to take a 3-0 lead. A bunt single from the Bison in the second, put a runner on base, but they were unable to capitalize on the hit as Troy got out of the inning.

Base hits from Stephanie Snyder and Maddie Porter, and a double from Meg Willis gave Troy a 6-0 advantage in the third inning. In the top of the fourth, the Bison's bats started to heat up and Troy couldn't find an answer to the momentum shift. A three-run homer from the Lipscomb second baseman put the Bison on the board. Another run came in for Lipscomb before Troy was able to get out of the inning.

Lipscomb scored another run in the sixth to tie the game at 6-6. Erica Davis stepped up to the plate for Troy looking for a walk-off. A bomb to center field looked as though Troy would get the win, but a spectacular catch by the Lipscomb center fielder sent the game into extras.

With a runner placed on second, Lipscomb took their first lead of the game as they scored two runs in the top of eighth. Troy put two runners on base, but couldn't find the hit they needed to regain the lead.

In the circle, Claire Graves (3-0) got the start and threw five innings, gave up eight hits and threw one strikeout before she was relieved by senior Rachel Rigney Brown (4-2). Rigney threw 2.2 innings with two strikeouts before Graves returned to close out the game.

NOTEWORTHY
• Every starter in today's lineup put up a hit. Porter and Brooke Echols led the team with two hits each.
• Echols recorded her first collegiate hit with a single to left field and later in the game hit a double.
• Troy moves to 4-3 all-time against Lipscomb.
• Lipscomb also defeated No. 19 Pittsburgh in the first game of the tournament.

QUOTABLE
"I thought we came out really fast and played really well in the first three or four innings," head coach Beth Mullins said. "We got off the gas and let a lot of moments get away from us. There is not one play that determined that game. They beat us in the late innings and you have to give them credit."

UP NEXT
Troy continues play in the Troy Classic on Saturday as they take on Southeastern Louisiana and No. 19 Pittsburgh at 3 and 5:30 p.m.

For more information on Troy softball, visit TroyTrojans.com and follow @TroyAthletics and @TroyTrojansSB on Twitter.