Troy University Athletics
Saturday, March 13
Arlington, Texas
1:30 p.m.
Troy University
17-5, 1-0
5
at
0
UT Arlington
3-12, 0-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Troy
0
4
0
0
0
0
1
5
6
2
UT Arlington
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
2
Johnson Tops 500 Career Strikeouts Mark, Troy Takes Series Over UTA
3/13/2021 8:01:00 PM | Softball
ARLINGTON, Texas – Leanna Johnson surpassed the 500 career strikeouts milestone en route to a shutout win over UT Arlington, 5-0, before Troy utilized timely offensive bursts to down the Mavericks and take the series, 4-1, Saturday at Allan Saxe Field.
Needing seven strikeouts to top the 500 mark, Johnson fanned 10 Mavericks to become the second Trojan in program history to reach the milestone.
Game One: Troy 5, UT Arlington 0
After a scoreless opening frame, Troy's offense ignited in the top of the second inning scoring four runs off four hits.
Kelly Horne kickstarted the action with a leadoff double to left field. Anslee Finch then smashed a single to the right-field wall to plate the first run of the matchup.
After a strikeout, Libby Baker sparked a two-out rally with a single to right field. Logan Calhoun followed drawing a four-pitch walk to load the bases for Jade Sinness.
Sinness then drew another four-pitch walk scoring a second run for the Trojans. Candela Figueroa capped off the four-run affair roping a single up the middle to score Calhoun and Baker.
Following the offensive burst, Johnson continued as the sophomore usually does and hung four consecutive zeroes to send the game into the bottom of the sixth.
After Jadyn Erickson led off with a bunt single, Johnson forced a pair of outs to bring Sophie Wideman to the plate. Wideman singled to left field and put runners on the corners.
Despite the Mavericks threatening with a runner in scoring position, Troy's righty remained calm and fanned the final batter of the inning to record her 500th career strikeout.
After a pair of errors plated an insurance run for the Trojans, Johnson retired the side to secure her ninth win of the season.
Gracie Bumpurs (1-5) suffered the loss for UT Arlington after giving up four runs, four hits and a pair of walks.
Game Two: Troy 4, UT Arlington 1
Troy struck first in the top of the opening frame after Horne hit a sacrifice fly to score Sinness, who led off the contest with a single to left.
After Libby Baker blanked the Mavericks in a pair of frames, UT Arlington tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run hit by Madison Miller. However, the Trojans answered in the top of the fifth when Sinness doubled to left-center to score Calhoun and give Troy back the lead.
Baker returned to the circle in the bottom half of the frame and retired the side to bring Troy's offense back to the plate. The pitcher then flashed her batting skills blasting a two-run shot to add a pair of insurance runs for the Trojans.
A scoreless seventh inning secured the series victory for the Trojans.
Baker (4-1) picked up her fourth win of the season after scattering five hits and a run.
Kennedy Hines (1-6) suffered the loss for UT Arlington allowing six hits, four runs and three walks.
QUOTABLE – Head Coach Beth Mullins
"It's always nice starting conference play with two gritty wins. I thought Leanna and Libby threw two great games. Our offense did a great job of getting the timely hits we needed to take both games today. I am excited to get back out on the field tomorrow for Championship Sunday!"
NOTABLE
NEXT UP
The Trojans look to sweep the Mavericks in tomorrow's series finale. First pitch from Allan Saxe Field is set for 11 a.m.
Needing seven strikeouts to top the 500 mark, Johnson fanned 10 Mavericks to become the second Trojan in program history to reach the milestone.
Game One: Troy 5, UT Arlington 0
After a scoreless opening frame, Troy's offense ignited in the top of the second inning scoring four runs off four hits.
Kelly Horne kickstarted the action with a leadoff double to left field. Anslee Finch then smashed a single to the right-field wall to plate the first run of the matchup.
After a strikeout, Libby Baker sparked a two-out rally with a single to right field. Logan Calhoun followed drawing a four-pitch walk to load the bases for Jade Sinness.
Sinness then drew another four-pitch walk scoring a second run for the Trojans. Candela Figueroa capped off the four-run affair roping a single up the middle to score Calhoun and Baker.
Following the offensive burst, Johnson continued as the sophomore usually does and hung four consecutive zeroes to send the game into the bottom of the sixth.
After Jadyn Erickson led off with a bunt single, Johnson forced a pair of outs to bring Sophie Wideman to the plate. Wideman singled to left field and put runners on the corners.
Despite the Mavericks threatening with a runner in scoring position, Troy's righty remained calm and fanned the final batter of the inning to record her 500th career strikeout.
After a pair of errors plated an insurance run for the Trojans, Johnson retired the side to secure her ninth win of the season.
Gracie Bumpurs (1-5) suffered the loss for UT Arlington after giving up four runs, four hits and a pair of walks.
Game Two: Troy 4, UT Arlington 1
Troy struck first in the top of the opening frame after Horne hit a sacrifice fly to score Sinness, who led off the contest with a single to left.
After Libby Baker blanked the Mavericks in a pair of frames, UT Arlington tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run hit by Madison Miller. However, the Trojans answered in the top of the fifth when Sinness doubled to left-center to score Calhoun and give Troy back the lead.
Baker returned to the circle in the bottom half of the frame and retired the side to bring Troy's offense back to the plate. The pitcher then flashed her batting skills blasting a two-run shot to add a pair of insurance runs for the Trojans.
A scoreless seventh inning secured the series victory for the Trojans.
Baker (4-1) picked up her fourth win of the season after scattering five hits and a run.
Kennedy Hines (1-6) suffered the loss for UT Arlington allowing six hits, four runs and three walks.
QUOTABLE – Head Coach Beth Mullins
"It's always nice starting conference play with two gritty wins. I thought Leanna and Libby threw two great games. Our offense did a great job of getting the timely hits we needed to take both games today. I am excited to get back out on the field tomorrow for Championship Sunday!"
NOTABLE
- After entering the weekend leading the nation in doubles, the Trojans tacked on five more to their season total (46) in today's contests.
- With 10 strikeouts in game one, Leanna Johnson has now recorded seven double-digit strikeout performances this season and 19 in her career.
- After falling in the first conference series to UT Arlington last season, the Trojans bounced back to take the opening conference series for the second time in the last three seasons.
NEXT UP
The Trojans look to sweep the Mavericks in tomorrow's series finale. First pitch from Allan Saxe Field is set for 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Leanna (9-3)
L: Bumpurs (1-5)
Batting:
2B: Horne, Kelly 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1
RBI: Sinness, Jade 1 ; Figueroa, Candela 2 ; Finch, Anslee 1
SH: Webb, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Figueroa, Candela 1 ; Horne, Kelly 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1 ; Baker, Libby 1 ; Calhoun, Logan 1
SB: Figueroa, Candela 1
CS: Calhoun, Logan 1
HBP: Webb, Katie 1 ; Horne, Kelly 1
Batting:
SH: Murphy 1
Base Running:
CS: Carreon 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
rf/lf
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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