Troy Softball Splits Day Two of LSU Invitational

Saturday, March 5

Baton Rouge, La.

1 p.m.

Troy University

13-3

Central Connecticut State

0-13

Central Conn. St.

Troy

Troy Softball Splits Day Two of LSU Invitational

3/5/2022 6:30:00 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. – The Troy Softball team downed Central Connecticut State in five innings, 11-1, before stumbling in game two against Louisiana Tech, 6-2, in day two of the LSU Invitational Saturday at Tiger Park.

The Trojan offense (13-3) exploded for 11 runs in five innings against the Blue Devils (0-13). The trio of Libby Baker, Brianna Bailey and Brookelyn Cannon held Central Connecticut State to just three hits.

Game One: Troy 11, Central Connecticut State 1
Baker (3-1) started off hot, fanning the side to open up the first frame of action.

Troy's offense struck first for three runs off three hits in the bottom of the first to take an early 3-0 lead. Jade Sinness led off with a triple down the right-field line. Kelly Horne directly followed with a single to centerfield that plated Sinness.

After Baker fought off two foul balls to draw a walk, Anslee Finch doubled to score Horne. An RBI fielder's choice plated the third run of the inning for the Trojans.

The Blue Devils answered with a run in the top of the second, but the trio of Trojan pitchers silenced Central Connecticut State through the next three innings.

Led by a pair of hits and two walks, Troy struck again for three runs in the bottom of third. Horne and Finch led off the inning with back-to-back hits. After a pair of walks, a throwing error from the Blue Devils' third baseman capped off the three-run affair.

A five-run fourth inning for the Trojans put the run-rule in effect heading into the fifth. Sinness led off the fourth with an infield single.

After Horne drew a walk, hits from Finch, Taylor McKinney and Audra Thompson plated three runs. Kennedi Gaton smashed a sacrifice fly to deep center field to plate the 11^th run of the contest.

After Bailey shutdown the Blue Devils in the top of the fourth, Cannon saw her first action of the season and worked around a leadoff single to close out the contest.

Baker picked up the win after scattering two hits and the lone run of the contest.

Kari Marks (0-5) suffered the loss for Central Connecticut State after allowing three runs off two hits anda walk.

Game Two: Louisiana Tech 6, Troy 2
After a quiet first frame from both sides, Louisiana Tech (14-7) struck first in the bottom of the second inning for three runs off a hit, two walks and an error.

A pair of walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases early with no outs, forcing Baker to enter in relief of Leanna Johnson (8-2) early in the contest. A fielding error by Logan Calhoun and a single scored three runs for the Bulldogs.

Despite a two-out walk and single by Thompson, Troy stranded a pair of runners in the top of the fourth to remain scoreless.

The Bulldogs tacked on a run in the bottom of the fourth off a sacrifice fly and a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth after stringing together three hits and a walk to give Louisiana a 6-0 advantage heading into the final frame.

The Trojans refused to go down without a fight. After Thompson led off the seventh with a single, a pinch-hit infield single by Blake Gibson put two runners on for Sinness. The sophomore put the ball in play and forced a fielding error to plate Troy's first run of the game.

Horne followed and reached on a throwing error to score Gibson, but the Trojans two-out comeback fell short.

Johnson suffered the loss for Troy after giving up a hit, a walk and a hit by pitch.

Audrey Puckett (9-2) earned her ninth win of the season after scattering two runs and six hits.

Notable

After a slow start to the season, first baseman Audra Thompson shined today going 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.
Troy's 11 runs in game one was the second-most this season after the Trojans posted 16 against Purdue Fort Wayne during opening weekend.
Kelly Horne drew her 21^st walk of the season. The junior entered the day leading the nation in walks per game, averaging 1.46.

Next Up
The Trojans close out the LSU Invitational tomorrow against Louisiana Tech. First pitch is set for 8:45 a.m.