Troy’s Offense Too Hot for ULM

Saturday, April 17

Monroe, La.

2 p.m.

Troy University

27-9, 11-3

ULM

13-21, 6-8

Troy

ULM

4/17/2021 9:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game One Box Score (PDF)Game Two Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

MONROE, La. – Troy's offense turned in a pair of double-digit hit contests en route to a doubleheader sweep over ULM, 13-2 and 10-6, Saturday at the ULM Softball Complex.

After falling in all three games of the series against No. 14 Louisiana, the Trojans (28-9, 12-3 Sun Belt) bounced back to earn their fourth series win of the season.

Game One: Troy 13, ULM 2

Anslee Finch crushed the first grand slam of her career after an infield single and a pair of walks loaded the bases in the top of the opening frame.

ULM (13-22, 6-9 Sun Belt) retaliated with a solo home run in the bottom of the first to bring Troy's advantage to three.

After a quiet second frame, the Trojans tacked on another pair of runs in the top of the third and fourth.

Audra Thompson blasted her first career home run in the cardinal and white in the top of the third to give Troy a 6-1 advantage.

After Leanna Johnson (16-4) scattered a hit in the bottom half of the frame, a pair of doubles by Katie Webb and Kelly Horne and a single by Finch plated two runs in the top of the fourth.

Brianna Bailey entered in relief of Johnson and retired the side in the bottom of the fourth.

Troy's offense ignited for five runs off four hits in the visitors half of the fifth. The big blow was a Katie Lively three-run home run that gave Troy a 13-1 advantage and put the run-rule in effect.

ULM plated one run in the bottom of the fifth but could not keep the game from ending in five.

Johnson earned the win scattering three hits and a run over 3.0 innings of work while Amber Coons (3-4) suffered the loss for the Warhawks allowing seven runs, four hits and five walks.

Game Two: Troy 10, ULM 6

Troy struck first in the top of the first plating one run after Finch drew a bases-loaded walk.

After ULM stranded a base runner in the bottom of the first, Troy utilized hits by Kennedi Gaton, Jade Sinness, Lively and three ULM errors to plate a pair of runs in the top of the second frame.

However, ULM quickly retaliated with four runs of their own in the bottom of the second to tie the contest.

Logan Calhoun sparked Troy's offense with an infield in the top of third. After a walk set up Webb with runners on first and second, the first baseman roped an RBI single up the middle that gave the Trojans the lead back once and for all.

Kelly Horne followed with a single down the third-base line to give Troy a two-run advantage.

After a quiet pair of innings, the Trojans plated three insurance runs over the sixth and seventh inning to send the game into the bottom half of the final frame.

The Warhawks attempted to spark a comeback in the seventh with a pair of runs, but a clutch double play by Thompson hung two outs with a pair of runners in scoring position.

Madison Blount followed roping a single to center field, but Sinness gunned a runner trying to score to end the contest.

Gianni Hulett (4-5) suffered the loss for ULM allowing 15 hits, 10 runs and four walks. Johnson earned the win in the nightcap pitching 4.1 innings in relief of Kynsley Rae Blasingame who earned the start for the Trojans.

QUOUTABLE – Head Coach Beth Mullins
"It was a long gritty day for our team! I thought our offense was very consistent all day and continued to have quality at bats! We will be ready to come back out and continue to take it one pitch at a time tomorrow!"

NOTABLE

Head coach Beth Mullins is just one game shy of reaching the 200-career win mark.
With Louisiana beating Texas State, Troy now holds lone second place in the Sun Belt.
Troy extended its extra-base hit streak to 15 games. The last time Troy did not record an extra-base hit was against Auburn on March 10.