Troy Earns Series-Clinching Win Over South Alabama

Friday, May 6

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

29-18, 15-11

South Alabama

23-19, 15-6

South Alabama

Troy

Troy Earns Series-Clinching Win Over South Alabama

5/6/2022 10:16:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Highlights Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy's potent offense smashed a season-high 14 hits to power past South Alabama, 7-2, and earn the series Friday night at the Troy Softball Complex.

Powered by a 2-for-4 night with a pair of home runs from freshman Taylor McKinney, the Trojans (29-18, 15-11 Sun Belt) tallied their 11^th double-digit hits contest of the season.

Alongside McKinney, catcher Katelynn de Leon boasted a 3-for-4 night with an RBI and third baseman Kennedi Gaton went a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

Troy's four-run bottom of the first saw the Trojans plate all that was needed to down the Jaguars (23-19, 15-6 Sun Belt).

Kelly Horne and Blake Gibson ignited the offense with a pair of singles to put runners on for Audra Thompson. After Thompson loaded the bases with a walk on four straight balls, Anslee Finch ripped an infield single to plate the first run of the four-run affair.

de Leon followed directly behind Finch and singled to left field, plating a second run for the good guys.

Gaton capped off the inning with a two-RBI double to deep left-center field, putting the Trojans up 4-0 early.

Libby Baker (8-5) allowed just a walk over the next three frames to hang four straight zeroes.

In the bottom of the fourth, McKinney blasted her first home run of the night, a two-out shot over the left-field wall.

Baker worked around a pair of runners in both the top of the fifth and sixth inning to hold the Jaguars scoreless through six innings.

Troy tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the home half of the sixth when Horne and McKinney sent back-to-back solo shots out of the park.

However, South Alabama wouldn't go down without a fight. A fielding error and a walk put two runners on for pinch hitter Kassidy Wilcox. Wilcox roped the first pitch she saw into left-center to clear the base paths.

With a runner on second, Baker fanned the final batter of the contest to secure the series win for the Trojans. Baker did not allow an earned run over her 7.0 innings of work.

Jenna Hardy suffered the loss for South Alabama after not being able to find a way out of the opening frame. The junior was responsible for four runs, five hits and a walk on the night.

Quotable – Co-Interim Head Coach Taylor Smartt
"Tonight's series win was big time for us! Our offense was hot out of the gate and tacked on some early runs, and then, Libby shut them down in the circle. We are just looking to come out tomorrow and get one last home win for our seniors."

Notable

Prior to the game, as a part of World Ovarian Cancer Day, Troy ace Leanna Johnson threw out a ceremonial first pitch to South Alabama catcher Kassidy Wilcox. Wilcox is the sister of Alex Wilcox, who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2018. Johnson and Alex Wilcox were high school teammates at Brantley High School.
With her home run tonight, Kelly Horne took sole possession of fifth place in Troy's single-season home run record (13).
Six Trojans tallied multi-hit contests on the night –Horne (2), Taylor McKinney (2), Blake Gibson (2), Anslee Finch (2), Katelynn de Leon (3) and Kennedi Gaton (2).
McKinney and Gaton also recorded a multi-RBI contest.

Next Up
The Trojans look to earn the series sweep in the Saturday finale tomorrow at 2 p.m. Prior to the game, Troy will honor seniors Tate Moseley, Kaylee Chapman, Candela Figueroa, Adia Polk, Logan Calhoun and Haley Postell.