Troy Falls in Extra Innings to UTA

Wednesday, May 12

Troy, Ala.

3 p.m.

Troy University

34-14

UT Arlington

17-32

UT Arlington

Troy

5/12/2021 7:52:00 PM | Softball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Despite an early lead, Troy fell in an extra-inning heartbreaker to the sixth-seeded UT Arlington Mavericks, 2-1, in its opening game of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Wednesday at the Troy Softball Complex.

After the Trojans (34-14) struck first in the bottom of the second frame off of a solo shot by Kelly Horne, a pitchers' duel commenced with both sides hanging zeroes through the fifth.

Libby Baker (7-5) checked into the contest for starter Leanna Johnson in the top of the second and surrendered just two hits over the next four innings of work.

For UTAn(17-32), Kennedy Hines (6-11) entered in relief of starter JoJo Valencia in the bottom of the fourth and retired six consecutive batters to send the game into the sixth with the Trojans holding on to a 1-0 advantage.

K.J. Murphy then led off the top of the sixth with a single up the middle for the Mavericks. A well-executed sacrifice bunt, and heads up base running, placed Murphy, the tying run, just 60 feet away.

Cleanup hitter Reagan Hukill hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to even the contest heading into the seventh.

Baker calmly retired the side in the top half of the frame and tried to spark momentum with a single in the bottom half of the seventh but was left stranded, sending the game into extra innings.

An infield single by Jessica Carreon put the go-ahead run aboard for the Mavericks in the top of the eighth. With two-outs, a single to right-center and a throwing error plated the eventual game winning run for UT Arlington.

The Trojans attempted to rally back with two runners aboard in the bottom half of the eighth but couldn't scratch a run across.

NOTABLE

Jade Sinness saw a 25-game reached-base safely streak snapped.
The Trojans have now lost four consecutive Sun Belt Tournament games.
Sophomore Kelly Horne has now recorded an RBI in three straight contests.

NEXT UP
Troy begins its battle through the losers' bracket against ULM on Thursday at 3 p.m. and will have to win five straight games to win the Sun Belt Tournament Championship.