Troy Topples No. 16 South Carolina, Shuts Out Charlotte

Saturday, February 29

Columbia, S.C.

11 a.m.

Troy University

12-3

Charlotte

11-7

Troy

Charlotte

Troy Topples No. 16 South Carolina, Shuts Out Charlotte

2/29/2020 5:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Troy Athletics Communications

COLUMBIA, South Carolina – The Trojans tossed a combined two-hitter to power past No. 16 South Carolina, 2-1, after Leanna Johnson picked up her sixth shutout to down Charlotte, 10-0, Friday in the Black and Garnet Challenge at Beckham Field.

Troy (13-3) became the first team to beat the Gamecocks (11-4) in a home tournament since 2015. It also marks the first time Troy has beaten an SEC opponent since 2012 when the Trojans toppled Auburn.

Johnson (8-2) etched her name into Troy's single-season shutout record at number nine with her sixth. The sophomore also sits in eighth place after pitching seven shutouts last season.

Game One: Troy 10, Charlotte
The Trojans' struck first in the top of the second inning when Meagan Patterson blasted her second home run of the season, a two-run shot over the center field wall.

Jade Sinness tacked on another run in the top of the third inning with a single to score Katie Emmal.

In the top of the fourth, Katie Lively smoked a three-run long ball to give her a pair of home runs on the year.

Kelly Horne and Kaylee Chapman both added homers to give Troy the run-rule win over Charlotte (11-7).

Carson Pace (3-4) suffered the loss for the 49ers allowing six runs, four hits and two walks.

Johnson earned the win fanning 10 batters and scattering one hit and a walk.

Game Two: Troy 2, No. 16 South Carolina 1
Kynsley Rae Blasingame (2-0) picked up her second win of the season scattering a run and a hit in 4.1 innings of work. The junior held the Gamecocks hitless through the first four innings.

Troy broke the scoreless streak on both sides when Lively blasted a two-run home run to give the Trojans the lead once and for all in the top of the fifth inning.

South Carolina answered in the bottom half of the inning with a single by Kenzi Maguire to score Jordan Fabian.
Johnson closed out the final 2.2 innings of action for her third save of the season as she fanned four batters and allowed just one hit.

Karsen Ochs (3-1) suffered the loss for the Gamecocks giving up two runs and six hits through seven innings.

Quotable- Head Coach Beth Mullins
"I thought our pitching staff was very consistent all day. Leanna and Kynsley threw two great games. As a team, we are just doing a good job of living pitch-to-pitch on defense and at the plate, and we are playing Troy Softball. I am excited to get back out there tomorrow and continue to take it one pitch at a time."

Notable

This marks the first time that Troy has knocked off a ranked opponent since beating No. 21 Louisiana in 2018. It is also the first time that the Trojans have beaten a ranked team on the road since downing No. 10 Florida State in 2015.
Leanna Johnson turned in her fifth double-digit strikeout game of the season in the win over Charlotte.
The Trojans have now blasted a home run in six consecutive games, the longest home run streak since 2015.

Next Up
The Trojans return to action in the Black and Garnet Challenge tomorrow at 9 a.m. against Charlotte. Troy will then take on South Carolina at 2 p.m.