Trojans Split Competitive Sun Belt Opener

Friday, March 9

Troy, Ala.

2 PM

Troy University

14-6, 1-0

Georgia Southern

13-7, 0-1

Georgia Southern

Troy

3/9/2018 8:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score- Game one Box Score- Game Two

By: Grace Bolin

TROY, Alabama- Troy softball (14-7, 1-1 SBC) opened Sun Belt Conference play at home on Friday, hosting Georgia Southern. The Trojans split the opener, taking game one 6-3 and suffering a heartbreaking 6-5 loss in extras in the second game of the doubleheader.

Katie Webb continued to impress at the plate, going 3-for-3 in game one with one run and one RBI, and came through clutch with a two-run homer to tie the game in extra innings in game two, her team-high fourth long ball of the season.

Game one: Troy 6, Georgia Southern 3
Both teams put on a defensive showcase as neither team could get a run across early in the game as the matchup remained scoreless through the first three innings. The Eagles got on the board first as Allyssah doubled with two outs and Hannah Farrell hit a two run homer to take a 2-0 lead.

Troy answered back in the home half of the inning as Hope Hernandez singled up the middle with two outs to put a runner on base for the Trojans. A walk for Kaylee Hussey and a double up the middle from Carli Kayler allowed Hernandez to score from second.

The Trojan defense held the Eagles in the fifth, getting three quick outs, before putting up a solid half inning of their own at the plate. Madeline Porter got on base with a walk and scored as an RBI double from Webb drove her home to tie the game. Troy didn't stop there as Stephanie Snyder and Brooke Echols followed with back-to-back singles, bringing in Webb to take a 3-2 lead. Hernandez continued to have strong plate appearances as she got her second hit of the game to score Kyndal Riddick who entered to run for Snyder.

An RBI double from the Eagles cut Troy's lead to one, but the defense worked through the jam and trusted the strong at-bats from the offense. In the bottom of the sixth, Logan Calhoun singled to centerfield getting one runner on with one out. The team leader in stolen bases added another one and took third on an Eagle error. Webb walked to put runners on the corners and Snyder followed through with an RBI single, scoring Calhoun. The drive continued as a walk and base hit from pinch hitter Bailey Taylor allowed Talia Truitt to step across the plate, giving Troy its final lead and first conference win of the season.

Reigning Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week, Annie Willis, had another productive outing, striking out four batters and only allowing three runs on five hits. She earned the win to move to 5-1 on the year.

Game two: Troy 5, Georgia Southern 6
The Trojans' rally fell just short as Troy suffered a heartbreaking loss in nine innings in the final game of the day.

The Eagles came out swinging as a leadoff home run from Alesha Mann put the momentum on Georgia Southern's side. However, the Trojans didn't back down as they answered back in the third as Hannah Williamson got on base on an error and Riddick entered to run. A hard hit double into right center from Calhoun tied the game as Riddick came home. Porter and Webb both followed with singles, scoring Calhoun as the Trojans took a 2-1 lead before the Eagles ended the inning.

The Eagles answered with an RBI single in the top of the fourth, tying the game at 2-2. Both defenses battled it out for the next three innings as no runners were able to get across the plate, sending the game into extra innings.

Another leadoff homer from Georgia Southern and a sacrifice fly gave the Eagles a 4-2 lead. The Trojans didn't flinch as Porter led off with a single, and Troy's home run leader stepped to the plate for her perfect opportunity. On a 0-2 count, Webb sent one flying over the centerfield wall, yet again tying the game.

The bats remained hot on both sides as back-to-back singles and a double scored another two runs for the Eagles, before Graves threw two timely strikeouts to end the inning.

Catcher Kaylee Hussey made her first plate appearance of the game and singled through left field to put one on with no outs. Sophomore Grace Mirly entered the game to pinch hit and followed through with a double, advancing Hussey to third. With one out, Calhoun ripped a single scoring Hussey to cut the Eagles' lead to one and moving Mirly to third. With the tying run just 60 feet away and the winning run on second, an infield fly ended the scoring opportunity for the Trojans.

Junior Peyton Glover earned the start and pitched 8.1 innings before Claire Graves entered in relief. Unfortunately, Glover took the loss, her first of the season, moving to 5-1.

UP NEXT
Troy will continue the conference series as it hosts Georgia Southern Saturday at noon in a winner-take-all matchup.

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