Johnson Tosses No-Hitter, Pitching Staff Leads Troy to Opening Day Sweep

Friday, February 18

Troy, Ala.

3 p.m.

Troy University

6-1

Nicholls

1-6

Nicholls State

Troy

Johnson Tosses No-Hitter, Pitching Staff Leads Troy to Opening Day Sweep

2/18/2022 8:44:00 PM | Softball

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

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Powered by Leanna Johnson's nightcap no-hitter, Troy swept the opening day of the Troy Invitation with wins over Nicholls State, 8-0, and Eastern Kentucky, 9-0, Friday at the Troy Softball Complex.

Johnson (4-0) struck out 14 of the Trojans 15 outs in the contest to no-hit Eastern Kentucky (0-7), who is fresh off an NCAA Regional appearance.

Johnson and Libby Baker (3-0) combined for a one-hit shutout in the opening game of the day against Nicholls State (1-6).

The Trojans (7-1) tallied 16 runs while giving up just one hit on the afternoon.

Game One: Troy 8, Nicholls State 0
Troy punched first in the bottom of the first inning, plating four runs off five hits. Jade Sinness led off the inning with a single up the middle. After Kelly Horne followed with a double, Kennedi Gaton, Candela Figueroa and Taylor McKinney strung together three consecutive two-out singles to give Troy the 4-0 lead.

After Johnson struck out the side, Sinness again led off the inning with a walk. Horne smashed a nearly identical double to score Sinness in the bottom of the second.

Baker entered in relief of Johnson in the top of third and worked around a trio of walks to keep the Colonels scoreless.

The Trojans offense remained quiet in the bottom half of the third, sending Baker back into the circle. Baker gave up a leadoff single but retired the next three straight.

Horne, yet again, smashed a double to deep right-center field, this time to lead off the fourth. After a Baker single, Horne came around to score on a ground ball.

In the bottom of the fifth, singles from Blake Gibson, Sinness and Katie Lively plated the two runs necessary to finish the game in five.

Paris Lehman suffered the loss for Eastern Kentucky after allowing five runs, six hits and two walks.

Game Two: Troy 9, Eastern Kentucky 0
Johnson came out firing on all cylinders in the top of the first with a pair of strikeouts and a fly out, the only ball put in play in the game.

Troy's offense picked up right where they left off in the bottom of the opening frame when Anslee Finch roped a two-run double to left field.

In the bottom of the second, Logan Calhoun singled up the middle to set up Sinness for a two-run blast, her third of the season. Horne drew a walk and came around to score on a wild pitch to give the Trojans a 4-0 advantage.

After Johnson struck out the side for the second consecutive inning, a wild pitch score Figueroa in the bottom of the third.

The Troy ace returned to the circle in the top half of the fourth and worked around a two-out walk to hold the Colonels scoreless.

McKinney launched the second home run of her career in the bottom of the fourth, this time a three-run shot over the left-field wall, to put the run-rule in effect.

In her usual fashion, Johnson fanned all three batters to earn her second career no hitter.

Bethany Todd suffered the loss for EKU after allowing six runs off five hits and five walks.

Quotable – Co-Interim Head Coach Holly Ward
"I'm super proud of our team after two big wins tonight. Our bats were hot all day. I'm super proud of Leanna, Candela and our defense for the no hitter. Leanna pitched lights out, only allowing one ball to be put in play."

Notable

The Trojans recorded a pair of shutouts on the afternoon, marking the first time Troy has recorded back-to-back shutouts since the Trojans shutout Georgia Southern in all three games of the series last season.
Four Trojans recorded multi-RBI games – Katie Lively (2), Jade Sinness (2), Anslee Finch (2) and Taylor McKinney (3).
The Trojans are set to face 10 opponents who made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. Troy starts the season off 3-0 against 2021 NCAA Tournament teams.

Next Up
The Trojans return in day two of the Troy Invitational tomorrow. Troy will square off against Nicholls State at 3 p.m. followed by Ole Miss at 5:30 p.m.