Historic Outings Power Troy to Third Consecutive Sweep

Saturday, April 3

Troy, Ala.

12 p.m.

Troy University

24-6, 8-0

Georgia Southern

7-16, 0-7

Georgia Southern

Troy

Historic Outings Power Troy to Third Consecutive Sweep

4/3/2021 6:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (PDF)Highlights Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Behind a pair of dominant performances in the circle by Brianna Bailey and Leanna Johnson, Troy downed Georgia Southern, 5-0 and 9-0, to earn the program's best conference start Saturday at the Troy Softball Complex.

With the three-game sweep, Troy (25-6) is off to its best overall start since 1995.

Game One: Troy 4, Georgia Southern 0
Both sides remained quiet through the first three innings of the contest, as Brianna Bailey (3-1) scattered just three hits to keep the game scoreless.

Troy's offense then ignited in the bottom of the fourth plating all four runs of the contest off four hits.

Katie Lively kick started the scoring rally smashing a double to left that plated Jade Sinness, who led off with an infield single.

Katie Webb followed blasting her third long ball of the season, a two-run shot over the center-field wall.

With the bases cleared, Kelly Horne didn't let the rally die, roping a double down the left field line. Horne moved to third off an error by the left fielder, setting her up to score off a wild pitch on the next pitch from Georgia Southern's Waldrep (2-4). The pitcher allowed four and four hits over her four innings of work.

Bailey returned to the circle with the four-run lead and calmly retired nine of the next 11 Eagles to earn her third win of the season.

Game Two: Troy 9, Georgia Southern 0
The Trojans struck first in the bottom of the second frame when Anslee Finch scored from third off a sacrifice fly hit by Logan Calhoun.

Lively's hot streak at the plate continued in the bottom of the third when the sophomore led off with a solo blast over the left-center wall.

Webb and Horne followed getting aboard with a single and a hit by pitch respectively, setting up Candela Figueroa's sacrifice fly that plated the third run of the contest.

Johnson held the Eagles scoreless for the fourth consecutive inning to send the game into the bottom of the fourth.

Back-to-back doubles by Sinness and Lively plated another run for the good guys in the bottom of the fourth.

After Horne drew a walk, Finch roped a single into the left-center gap scoring Lively. The RBI single gave Troy the 5-0 advantage.

Libby Baker entered in the top of the fifth and worked her way out of a runner in scoring position jam fanning the final batter of the inning.

A pair of hits by Figueroa and Calhoun in the bottom half of the frame scored a run for the Trojans. With two runners on for Sinness, the freshman cranked her sixth home run of the season to secure the Trojans 10th run-rule victory of the season.

Quotable – Head Coach Beth Mullins
"It was just a really solid doubleheader with two wins. I thought we pitched really well. Brianna Bailey threw a great game in the first game, getting the shutout. Leanna and Libby combined for another shutout in the second game. Anytime you put up a lot of zeroes in the circle, it gives your offense a lot of confidence. I think we had quality at bats from the first pitch all the way to the last. I'm just really proud of them. We have been really mature and consistent, and I have no doubt that we will stay that way the rest of the year."

Notable

With the win in game two, Leanna Johnson recorded her 50^th career win.
For the first time in program history, the Trojans have shutout an opponent in a three-game conference series.
The Trojans have swept the opening three conference series for the first time since 2005.
The sweep over Georgia Southern marks the first time the Trojans have swept the Eagles since 2015.
Troy has not trailed in 32 innings. The last time the Trojans trailed was in the bottom of the first inning against Georgia State in game two. Troy went on to win that contest, 11-6.
Troy has now won at least nine-straight Sun Belt games in a season for the second consecutive season. The Trojans won 14-straight in 2019 (3/22-4/13).