Troy Softball Hosts Trojan Invitational to Open 2023 Season

TROY, Ala. – A new era of Troy Softball will be ushered in this weekend as the Trojans play host to Belmont and SIU-Edwardsville in the Trojan Invitational at the Troy Softball Complex. Troy opens the season with two games Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday.

All seven games of the Trojan Invitational will be broadcast live on ESPN3, and admission to all Troy Softball home games is free.

Eric Newell, who was hired this past summer to lead the program, leads the Trojans into the 2023 season led by Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year Kelly Horne and one of the best pitchers in the country, in Leanna Johnson.

Additionally, the Trojans welcome back six other players who filled out regular roles in the batting order last year with six total position starters and their everyday DP returning for the 2023 season.

Despite the change in leadership, expectations are still high for this year's squad, as Troy was picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt, a league that could easily see three to four teams advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans are coming off a 32-21 campaign last season, their fourth straight 30-win season (not counting the 2020 shortened year).

Johnson, a nearby Brantley, Ala., native, enters the year needing just 17 wins to pass Ashlyn Williams' seemingly untouchable wins record of 93 for her career. Johnson already holds Troy's career shutouts record and ranks second in strikeouts, innings pitched and appearances. For her career, Johnson carries a 77-32 record with eight saves, a 1.98 ERA and 870 strikeouts in 689 innings of work.

Newell will have his work cut out for him filling out the lineup card due to the depth and versatility on the roster, thanks to the returning players and key offseason additions. Troy figures to be six deep across its outfield and at least two deep at all its infield positions.

Belmont was picked to finish sixth in its inaugural season in the Missouri Valley Conference after winning 33 games overall, posting a 20-8 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference and advancing to the OVC Tournament Championship Game last year. The Bruins return reigning OVC Freshman of the Year in slugger Kristen Green.

SIUE is led by OVC Player to Watch Lauryn Yslava, and the Cougars were tabbed sixth in the OVC heading into the 2023 season under the direction of first-year head coach Ben Sorden. SIUE finished last season 19-35 overall and 9-19 in the OVC.

Troy Softball Hosts Trojan Invitational to Open 2023 Season

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Players Mentioned

Kelly Horne

Leanna Johnson

Troy University Athletics