Troy Softball Splits Doubleheader with No. 21 LSU

Friday, March 4

Baton Rouge, La.

4 p.m.

Troy University

12-2

LSU

13-6

Troy

LSU

Troy Softball Splits Doubleheader with No. 21 LSU

3/4/2022 10:21:00 PM | Softball

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

By: Troy Athletics Communications

BATON ROUGE, La. – Powered by a pair of long balls, Troy downed No. 21 LSU, 5-4 before falling in game two of the doubleheader, 10-2, to open the LSU Invitational Friday at Tiger Park.

A pair of long balls from Anslee Finch and Kennedi Gaton powered Troy (12-3) to its second ranked win of the season after downing No. 25 Ohio State last weekend.

With the win, the Trojans have no beaten three Power Five teams (Ole Miss, Ohio State and LSU) for the second straight season after the Trojans downed Ole Miss, North Carolina and Georgia Tech a year ago.

Game One: Troy 5, No. 21 LSU 4
Troy struck first in the top of the first frame when Anslee Finch smashed a two-run long ball, her third of the season.

Leanna Johnson (8-1) worked around a trio of walks and a single to hold the Tigers scoreless for three straight frames.

In the top of the fourth, Kennedi Gaton blasted a solo shot to lead off the top of the fourth and put the Trojans up 3-0.

The Trojan ace again worked around a walk in the bottom half of the frame to hold LSU scoreless. However, LSU's offense struck for three runs in the bottom of the fifth off a three-run blast by Georgia Clark to even the matchup.

Needing an answer, Candela Figueroa roped a one-out single up the middle to kickstart Troy's offense. Logan Calhoun then followed and sent the first pitch she saw through the left side to put a pair of runners on for Jade Sinness.

Sinness calmly smashed a single up the middle to plate the go ahead run. Kelly Horne then stepped up and put the ball in play to allow Calhoun to score on a fielder's choice.

The Tigers refused to back down, bringing the game back within one with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, but Johnson worked around a pair of walks in the seventh to secure the victory.

Ali Kilponen (7-2) suffered just her second loss of the season after allowing five runs, six hits and four walks.

Game Two: No. 21 LSU 10, Troy 2
The Trojans once again struck first, this time in the top of the third when Sinness smashed an RBI double that plated Calhoun, who reached on an error. After Horne drew her 20^th walk of the season, pitcher Libby Baker singled up the middle to cap off a two-run inning for the Trojans.

Baker (2-1) retired the side with a pair of strikeouts and a ground out to hold LSU scoreless through the first three frames.

Taylor McKinney and Audra Thompson ripped back-to-back singles in the top of the fourth but were left stranded.

Baker took a no hitter into the top of the sixth before Morgan Smith ignited the Tiger offense with a leadoff single. LSU managed to string together four consecutive hits to gain a 3-2 advantage.

Despite Haley Postell coming in in relief of Baker after a three-run long ball, Troy could not find a way out of the inning. The Tigers tallied 10 runs to end the game in six.

Shelbi Sunseri (5-1) earned the win after scattering two runs, four hits and a walk.

Notable

The win in game one marked the first time Troy has beaten a pair of ranked teams since the 2015 season, where the Trojans defeated No. 10 FSU and No. 7 Louisiana.
The Trojan offense presented a well-balanced attack with five different players recording a hit in game one. Jade Sinness was the only player to record a multi-hit contest.
The game one win also marked Troy's first ranked road win since downing No. 16 South Carolina in 2020.

Next Up
Troy returns to action in the LSU Invitational tomorrow with a pair of games against Central Connecticut State and Louisiana Tech. First pitch in game one is set for 2 p.m.