Troy Downs Samford in Midweek Tilt

Wednesday, February 21

Birmingham, Ala.

5 PM

Troy University

6-3

Samford

1-10

Troy

Samford

2/21/2018 8:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Grace Bolin

BIRMINGHAM- Both teams battled for the lead, but it was Troy (6-3) who walked away with the 9-6 win on Wednesday night over Samford (1-10), after posting a season-high 11 hits.

Stephanie Snyder went 3-for-4 on the night with one run and three RBI, while freshman Bailey Taylor earned the start at first base and posted back-to-back doubles finishing the night with two hits, and one RBI.

Troy struck first as a two-out, RBI single from Stephanie Snyder brought Madeline Porter home in the first inning. Samford answered, tying the game 1-1 as the Bulldogs scored on a Trojan error.

Early miscues crippled the Bulldogs as a three-error second inning from Samford gave the Trojans a 5-1 lead. Troy took full advantage of an early hit by pitch and walk to get two runners on. Carli Kayler placed a nice sacrifice bunt down to put the runners in scoring position. A fielding error by the second baseman allowed a Trojan to come across the plate and put runners on the corners. Samford continued to struggle defensively, as it committed its second straight error giving Troy a 3-1 lead, with only one out.

Webb, who made her catching debut, capitalized with an RBI double into center field, bringing Calhoun home. Samford made the call to the bullpen and Taylor DeCelles struck out the first Trojan she faced. Kelly Horne also reached on an error, allowing another run to score before the Bulldogs were able to escape the inning.

Bailey Taylor kept the momentum going for the Trojans with a lead off double in the third, while Kayler followed suit with an infield single to put two on, with no outs, but Troy couldn't convert as a groundout and a double play left Troy runners stranded.

Samford applied the pressure and cut Troy's lead to one, with a three-run inning in the bottom of the third with an RBI double and a two-run home run. The Bulldogs added two more runs in the fourth inning to tie the game at 6-6.

Troy took its final lead of the night as Calhoun scored from third on a sacrifice fly from Snyder and Horne capped the game with an RBI single, sending Porter home.

Defense iced the game with a beautiful 5-4-3 double play and an easy put out to earn its sixth win of the season.

Glover earned the start and threw two strikeouts, but after getting in a jam, Claire Graves came in as relief in the third inning, with the tying run on base for Samford. Graves got Troy out of the inning and continued to have a solid game, getting the win to move to 3-2 on the year.

NOTEWORTHY

Troy made some changes defensively, sending Katie Webb behind the plate, Bailey Taylor at first and adding Brooke Echols into the lineup in left field.
With two strikeouts against the Bulldogs, Peyton Glover has already passed her total number of strikeouts last season in just 27.0 innings of work.
Troy's 11 hits is a season-high; Snyder's three hits ties Katie Webb for the most hits in a game this season.

UP NEXT
Troy will return home to host the Trojan Classic, welcoming UAB, Murray State and Tennessee Tech to the Troy Softball Complex. A complete schedule and times for all games can be found at TroyTrojans.com.

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