Glover, Webb Power Trojans on Opening Day

Friday, February 9

Troy, Ala.

4:30 PM

Troy University

1-0

Tennessee State

0-2

Tennessee State

Troy

2/9/2018 11:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Grace Bolin

TROY, Alabama- The Troy softball team (2-0) opened its season in dominant fashion on Friday as the Trojans walked away with a 9-1 win over Tennessee State and a 7-0 win against Alabama State at the Troy Classic.

Offensively, the performance of the day came from sophomore Katie Webb, who hit .714 at the plate with a double and the first Troy home run of the season. She scored two runs and brought in 5 RBIs to help Troy get off to a promising start.

Junior Peyton Glover was lights out in the circle with a new career-high 10 strikeouts with a complete game shutout over Alabama State.

Game one:
Troy 9, Tennessee State 1

Troy got off to a strong start as an RBI single from Webb brought home Taylor Corbett for the first run of the season. A three-run second inning with a single from senior Erica Davis and yet another great at-bat from Katie Webb with a double, gave the Trojans the early 4-0 advantage.

Grace Mirly started the third inning off with a double to left field. A hit by pitch and a single loaded the bases for Davis, who scored Mirly on a sacrifice fly. Freshman Kelly Horne hammered a single in her first collegiate at-bat, bringing three more runs across the dish. Horne capped off the five run inning walking across the plate as Troy took a 9-0 lead.

The defensive held true as Troy held the Tigers scoreless for the first four innings, until an RBI double put Tennessee State on the board in the top of the fifth.

With an eight run lead, Troy earned the run-rule victory after just five innings of play.

Junior Claire Graves (1-0) earned the first start of the year in the circle, only allowing two hits, one run and striking out seven batters.

Game two:
Troy 7, Alabama State 0

The Trojans kept the runs rolling across the plats as they put up 10 hits and scored seven runs in in game two of the day.

Glover got off to a hot start, striking out the side in the top of the first inning. Webb stepped up to the plate and slugged a home run deep into center field on a 2-2 count, for the first long-ball of the season.

A pop-up and two more strikeouts for Alabama State in the second brought the powerful Trojan bats back to the plate, sophomore Logan Calhoun barreled a double into left center field, but couldn't' get across the plate as Troy stranded two runners in the second inning.

An RBI single from Madeline Porter put Troy's second run on the board as Webb crossed the plate.

The fifth inning features two hits and three runs as another Webb hit started the inning off. Kaylee Hussey followed with a with an RBI double. A few hit by pitches loaded the bases for the Trojans. Two more runs came across to give Troy the 5-0 lead after five.

Cassidy McDilda made her first appearance of the day as a pinch hitter and singled up the middle. Calhoun followed with another base hit to bring across another run. Porter capped the scoring, stealing home to give Troy its final 7-0 victory,

Glover dominated with the complete game shutout, only allowing one hit, and striking out 10 batters.

QUOTABLE
"She (Glover) goes out there and just competes," head coach Beth Mullins said. "She has grown so much in the past two years and I am really proud of her. I give a ton of credit to Coach Affeldt who does an amazing job. I think Peyton just trusted and she was ready."

"Katie Webb knows she is a great hitter and half of it is confidence and having an attitude, Mullins said. "I think we came out and showed that today. The great thing about our team is we are one through 21, not just one through nine."

"I have a lot more confidence than I used to," said Glover. "I know I have a team that backs me up, and that makes everything a lot easier. Coach Affeldt, I have no words for how much she has helped me. She helps me with the mental side of the game as well as all the mechanics. She makes such a difference to me."

UP NEXT
Troy will continue to host the Troy Classic on Saturday and is set to face Valparaiso and SIUE tomorrow at 2:30 and 5 p.m., weather permitting.

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