Troy Drops Samford to Sweep Midweek Tilt

Wednesday, February 24

Troy, Ala.

4 p.m.

Troy University

9-1

Samford

2-4

Samford

Troy

2/24/2021 10:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game One Box Score Game Two Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Powered by strong performances in the circle and clutch hitting, Troy swept a doubleheader from in-state rival Samford, 3-2 and 7-1, Wednesday at the Troy Softball Complex.

With the victory, the Trojans (10-1) have held at least a six-game win streak for the seventh consecutive season.

Johnson tossed nine impressive innings, striking out 20 Bulldogs. With her 20 strikeouts today, Johnson moves into a tie for third place (431) on the Trojans all-time strikeout list.

At the plate, the Trojans were led by Kelly Horne who went a combined four-for-eight with a pair of runs scored.

Troy 3, Samford 2
With the game locked at two runs apiece, Kaylee Chapman led off the bottom of the ninth roping a single up the middle to kick start Troy's offense.

Logan Calhoun and Jade Sinness followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases for Candela Figueroa who drilled a liner to right plating Chapman.

Samford (2-5) hopped on the board first in the top of the second frame. A trio of singles and a fielding error plated a pair of runs for the Bulldogs.

The Trojans quickly retaliated plating two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame. After Kelly Horne led off with a single up the middle, Ashlan Ard knocked in Troy's first run of the game doubling to left field.

Calhoun then smoked a single up the middle to score Anslee Finch, who got aboard with a walk, to even the score.

After a pair of scoreless frames, Johnson (5-1) entered in relief of Libby Baker. Johnson tossed four perfect innings fanning 12 consecutive batters to match her season-high and allow the Trojans to walk it off in the ninth.

It marked the Trojans first walk-off victory since May 5, 2019 when Troy downed South Alabama, 4-3.

Emily Barnett (1-1) suffered the loss for the Bulldogs after entering in relief in the sixth inning. Barnett allowed one run, six hits and a walk.

Troy 7, Samford 1

After the Bulldogs struck first in opening frame with an inside-the-park homerun, the Trojans quickly answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Back-to-back singles from Sinness and Figueroa kickstarted the rally. A fielder's choice and passed ball placed a pair in scoring position, for Horne, who roped a single up the that scored Figueroa and tied the contest at one.

With the bases full and two out, Ard stepped up to the plate and ripped a singleup the middle, plating Lively and Horne.

After Johnson blanked the Bulldogs in the second, the Trojans loaded the bases, setting up Lively for an RBI single.

Johnson escaped a bases loaded situation to hang her third consecutive zero.

Briana Bailey entered the contest for Johnson in the sixth and retired the side. In the bottom half of the sixth, the Trojans plated a pair of runs, using a clutch pinch hit from freshman Mia Jenkins to score Figueroa and Sinness.

With a comfortable 7-1 lead, Bailey secured the Trojans 10th victory of the season firing a scoreless top half of the seventh inning.

Megan Robertson (0-1) suffered her first loss of the season allowing three runs off four hits and a walk.

QUOTEABLE- HC Beth Mullins:
"We played a really gritty first game, and I thought our pitchers threw really well. We weren't really putting together any quality at-bats, but our hitters stuck in there. I give Kaylee Chapman a lot of credit for her key hit, then we had three straight quality at-bats to win the game. It was a long day, but I'm really excited our team was able to hang in there for so many innings and be so consistent. Our pitching and our defense were just awesome, and our hitters did a great job later in the day."

NEXT UP
Troy hits the road for the first time this season when they head to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the Crimson Tide Classic against North Carolina, Memphis and Alabam. The weekend begins Friday morning with a doubleheader against the Tar Heels. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.