Johnson Blanks Georgia Southern

Friday, March 25

Statesboro, Ga.

5 p.m.

Troy University

19-8, 5-2

Georgia Southern

7-16, 2-5

Troy

Georgia Southern

3/25/2022 8:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

STATESBORO, Ga. – Powered by explosive late-inning offense and a double-digit strikeout performance from Leanna Johnson, Troy blanked Georgia Southern, 9-0, in game one of the series Friday at Eagle Field.

With the shutout, the Trojans (19-8, 5-2 Sun Belt) have now held the Eagles (7-16, 2-5 Sun Belt) scoreless in four consecutive matchups, totaling 26 straight innings.

The contest opened as a pitchers' duel, with both sides combining for just two base runners through the first three innings.

However, Jade Sinness broke Troy's hitless streak in the top of the fourth inning when she led off the frame with a single to left. Kelly Horne followed and smashed a double to deep left field, putting runners in scoring position. A ground out would plate Sinness and give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.

After Leanna Johnson (12-4) retired the side in the fourth, Troy's offense went back to the plate with some energy. Audra Thompson and Candela Figueroa tallied back-to-back hits to kick start the fifth. After Aayanah Hughes executed a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt, Thompson scored off a wild pitch to tally the first of three runs in the frame.

A single by Sinness and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Finch capped off the inning with a pair of runs for the good guys.

Johnson worked around a fielding error to hang zeroes in the fifth and sixth inning, sending the Trojans into the final frame with a four-run lead.

With two-outs in the seventh, Finch tacked on a trio of insurance runs, blasting a two-out, three-run long ball, her fifth of the season.

Taylor McKinney followed taking a payoff pitch over the right-center wall to give the Trojans a late 8-0 lead.

After Thompson ripped a double to center field, a fielding error by the Eagle shortstop brought the sophomore around to score, capping off the four run-inning.

Olivia Creamer looked to break Georgia Southern's scoreless skid, ripping a double down the left-field line with a runner on first, but Logan Calhoun threw the runner out at the dish to finalize the shutout.

Johnson (12-4) scattered four hits and fanned 10 batters to earn her 12^th victory of the season.

Kastin Belgorska (3-8) suffered the loss for the Eagle after allowing four runs off six hits.

Quotable – Head Coach Taylor Smartt
"I'm very proud of the way we played today. We made adjustments at the plate throughout the game and saw the results in the late innings. Leanna did a great job and continued to get better as the game went on."

Notable

Anslee Finch led the Trojans offensively going 1-for-3 with a walk and five RBIs.
Aayanah Hughes earned her first start in the cardinal and white. The freshman started at third base for the Trojans.
Troy improves to 7-0 when the pitching staff records 10 or more strikeouts.
The Trojans have outscored Georgia Southern 27-0 in the last four games of the series.

Next Up
Troy looks to take claim to its third consecutive Sun Belt series tomorrow. First pitch from Eagle Field is set for 1 p.m.