Troy University Athletics
Saturday, March 18
Troy, Ala.
12 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Texas State
Softball Hosts No. 25 Texas State; Weekend Schedule Altered
3/16/2023 9:24:00 AM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – Winners in nine of its last 10 games, Troy Softball returns home this weekend to open Sun Belt Conference play against No. 25 Texas State at the Troy Softball Complex. Due to the threat of rain on Friday, the series shifts to a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon and a single game Sunday at noon. Admission to Troy Softball games is free, and all three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Troy (19-7) is coming off a stretch in which it played 17-of-18 games away from home after opening the season with nine straight home games. However, the Trojans navigated the difficult schedule with a great deal of success, posting a 14-3 record.
The Trojans are not easing into the Sun Belt schedule by any means, as Texas State (18-9) was picked to finish second in the league during the preseason and is coming off wins over No. 9 Alabama and No. 10 Texas last weekend, which vaulted the Bobcats into the national rankings.
Fans in attendance this weekend could have a chance to witness Troy Softball history as Leanna Johnson enters the series just two wins shy of becoming Troy's all-time leader with 94 in her career. Additionally, Johnson is just 24 strikeouts shy of the 1,000 mark for her career.
Johnson, a Brantley, Ala., native, leads the country with 15 wins this season and is the active NCAA leader among all Divisions in wins, innings pitched, games started, and appearances. Additionally, she is the Division I leader in shutouts and complete games and ranks second in strikeouts to only Alabama's Montana Fouts.
Sophomore Taylor McKinney has emerged as an offensive star for the Trojans with multiple hits in four of her last seven games. She leads the Trojans with a .384 batting average, three triples, six home runs and a 1.224 OPS. Anslee Finch is not far behind with hits in 17 of her last 21 games to raise her average to a .375 clip with 12 extra-base hits.
Troy has already matched its stolen base output from last season with 29 steals through the first 26 games, while the Trojans' 25 sacrifices are just four shy of matching the total from 2022. On top of that, Troy's extra-base hit production is up from last year, and Troy's opponents' extra-base hit production is down – the Trojans have hit four more doubles, six more triples and 11 more home runs than their opponents.
Texas State features the Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of the Year in Jessica Mullins, who earned the victory in both of the Bobcats' big wins last weekend. She enters the weekend carrying an 11-5 record with a 1.33 ERA over 12 starts, nine complete games and 95 innings pitched.
Troy (19-7) is coming off a stretch in which it played 17-of-18 games away from home after opening the season with nine straight home games. However, the Trojans navigated the difficult schedule with a great deal of success, posting a 14-3 record.
The Trojans are not easing into the Sun Belt schedule by any means, as Texas State (18-9) was picked to finish second in the league during the preseason and is coming off wins over No. 9 Alabama and No. 10 Texas last weekend, which vaulted the Bobcats into the national rankings.
Fans in attendance this weekend could have a chance to witness Troy Softball history as Leanna Johnson enters the series just two wins shy of becoming Troy's all-time leader with 94 in her career. Additionally, Johnson is just 24 strikeouts shy of the 1,000 mark for her career.
Johnson, a Brantley, Ala., native, leads the country with 15 wins this season and is the active NCAA leader among all Divisions in wins, innings pitched, games started, and appearances. Additionally, she is the Division I leader in shutouts and complete games and ranks second in strikeouts to only Alabama's Montana Fouts.
Sophomore Taylor McKinney has emerged as an offensive star for the Trojans with multiple hits in four of her last seven games. She leads the Trojans with a .384 batting average, three triples, six home runs and a 1.224 OPS. Anslee Finch is not far behind with hits in 17 of her last 21 games to raise her average to a .375 clip with 12 extra-base hits.
Troy has already matched its stolen base output from last season with 29 steals through the first 26 games, while the Trojans' 25 sacrifices are just four shy of matching the total from 2022. On top of that, Troy's extra-base hit production is up from last year, and Troy's opponents' extra-base hit production is down – the Trojans have hit four more doubles, six more triples and 11 more home runs than their opponents.
Texas State features the Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of the Year in Jessica Mullins, who earned the victory in both of the Bobcats' big wins last weekend. She enters the weekend carrying an 11-5 record with a 1.33 ERA over 12 starts, nine complete games and 95 innings pitched.
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