Trojans Sweep Troy Invitational with Win Over Mercer

Sunday, February 21

Troy, Ala.

2 p.m.

Troy University

8-1

Mercer

2-4

Mercer

Troy

Trojans Sweep Troy Invitational with Win Over Mercer

2/21/2021 6:30:00 PM | Softball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – In the final day of the Troy Invitational, the Trojans downed Mercer, 9-1, in a five-inning contest at the Troy Softball Complex.

Sunday's victory, marks the first time Troy has swept the opening two weekends of the season since 1998.

Last weekend, Troy (8-1) swept the Trojan Classic with wins over Ole Miss, UAB and Belmont. Troy last opened the season with back-to-back sweeps at the Mercer Invitational and Troy State Invitational.

The action kick started in the bottom of the first inning when Jade Sinness led off with a double to right field and came around to score off a fielder's choice.

After Leanna Johnson (3-1) struck out the side in the top of the second, Anslee Finch reached on a fielding error to spark a three-run frame for the Trojans.

Katie Webb moved Finch and Ashlan Ard, who reached on a walk, into scoring position with a beautifully executed sacrifice bunt. Logan Calhoun then stepped into the batter's box and smashed her first of two clutch hits, an RBI single to left field.

Sinness followed singling up the middle to score Calhoun and Ard. The two-RBI hit gave Troy a 4-0 advantage.

Mercer (2-4) plated its lone run of the matchup in the top of the third when Elisa Rosardo's triple to left center scored Bree Comer who led off with a single.

A pair of scoreless frames brought the Trojans back to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning.

After back-to-back doubles by Finch and Ard scored a pair of runs, Calhoun capped off the three-run inning blasting an RBI triple to right center.

Libby Baker entered into the circle in the top of the of the sixth inning and retired the side fanning two of the three batters faced.

Candela Figueroa and Webb recorded consecutive singles in the bottom half of the fifth, to put the game-ending runs aboard for Finch. Finch then smashed a line drive into the left-center gap that scored both Figueroa and Webb, and gave Troy its third run-rule win of the weekend.

Johnson picked up her third win of the season striking out nine batters and scattering three hits over five innings of work.

Ashley Donner (1-2) suffered the loss for the Bears allowing sevens runs, six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings of action.

QUOTABLE – Head Coach Beth Mullins
"I thought Leanna threw a great game. Our offense did a great job of making adjustments throughout the game to be able to produce runs. I thought we just had a really consistent weekend all the way around. This team did a great job of taking it one game at a time all weekend, and they were able to come away with some wins."

NOTABLE

Troy's 8-1 start this season is the best start in the Beth Mullins' era.
Anslee Finch recorded her best offensive weekend as a Trojan. The freshman batted a .500 mark with a pair of doubles, two home runs and five RBIs.
In each of Troy's four wins this weekend, a different starting pitcher picked up the victory. Kysnley Rae Blasingame earned her first win of the season over Mercer Friday.
Candela Figueroa went a perfect 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts this weekend. Figueroa is now tied with Logan Calhoun with four stolen bases on the year.
Over the weekend, the Trojans smashed eight long balls. Troy entered the season with just one home run on the year.
Troy plated 34 runs over the weekend, the most in a single weekend since the Trojans scored 35 runs in the 2019 Diamond 9 Citrus Classic.