Troy University Athletics

Bats Connect for Troy to Tie Softball Series With ULM
3/25/2023 5:20:00 PM | Softball
MONROE, La. – Troy softball responded to yesterday's shutout with a nine-hit performance in the ULM Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon to tie the series 1-1 on a 7-2 victory over ULM.
Troy opened the floodgates in the top of the fourth after Audra Thompson reached first after being hit by a pitch and moved to second on a Kennedi Gaton single through the left side – resulting in a pitching change for ULM. Katelynn de Leon advanced both runners on a sac bunt, and a single to left field by Jade Sinness brought Thompson in for the score.
D'Aun Riggs won a nine-pitch battle with the Warhawks' Gianni Hulett to load the bases and set up Taylor McKinney at the plate. With one strike on the board in the top of the fourth, McKinney found her pitch, doubling to right center to clear the bases for three runs, 4-0 – three RBIs moved her to first in multi-RBI games for Troy at seven.
The Warhawks got their response in the bottom of the fifth by way of a homer from Kennedy Page on an 0-1 count. Page connected and sent the ball over the left field wall to end Oliva Cato's shutout, 4-1.
More runs poured on the scoreboard for the Trojans in the sixth after Sinness and McKinney got walked by Kelsey Giddens for ULM. Then, Libby Baker rocketed a "no-doubter" over the left-center wall for her sixth home run of the season to extend Troy's advantage, 7-1.
ULM gave one last fight to the Trojans in the bottom of the sixth, 7-2, homering out to left field through Campbell Selman for the game's final run.
The third inning teased the first runs of the ballgame for both sides. Down two outs, Baker stepped up to the plate for a single that found the gap in the middle. Anslee Finch was next and, on the third pitch, blooped it over the third baseman to put runners on first and second. Kelly Horne had the opportunity to bring the runners in. But, up 1-0 in the count, the designated hitter tapped it to the second baseman, who tagged the bag to get out of the inning scoreless.
Cato improved her record to .500 at 4-4 with a complete game that saw two strikeouts, while ULM expended four pitchers, with Hulett receiving the loss in 0.1 innings pitched.
The Trojans end the three-game series tomorrow at 10 a.m. to determine the weekend winner at the ULM Softball Complex.
Troy opened the floodgates in the top of the fourth after Audra Thompson reached first after being hit by a pitch and moved to second on a Kennedi Gaton single through the left side – resulting in a pitching change for ULM. Katelynn de Leon advanced both runners on a sac bunt, and a single to left field by Jade Sinness brought Thompson in for the score.
D'Aun Riggs won a nine-pitch battle with the Warhawks' Gianni Hulett to load the bases and set up Taylor McKinney at the plate. With one strike on the board in the top of the fourth, McKinney found her pitch, doubling to right center to clear the bases for three runs, 4-0 – three RBIs moved her to first in multi-RBI games for Troy at seven.
The Warhawks got their response in the bottom of the fifth by way of a homer from Kennedy Page on an 0-1 count. Page connected and sent the ball over the left field wall to end Oliva Cato's shutout, 4-1.
More runs poured on the scoreboard for the Trojans in the sixth after Sinness and McKinney got walked by Kelsey Giddens for ULM. Then, Libby Baker rocketed a "no-doubter" over the left-center wall for her sixth home run of the season to extend Troy's advantage, 7-1.
ULM gave one last fight to the Trojans in the bottom of the sixth, 7-2, homering out to left field through Campbell Selman for the game's final run.
The third inning teased the first runs of the ballgame for both sides. Down two outs, Baker stepped up to the plate for a single that found the gap in the middle. Anslee Finch was next and, on the third pitch, blooped it over the third baseman to put runners on first and second. Kelly Horne had the opportunity to bring the runners in. But, up 1-0 in the count, the designated hitter tapped it to the second baseman, who tagged the bag to get out of the inning scoreless.
Cato improved her record to .500 at 4-4 with a complete game that saw two strikeouts, while ULM expended four pitchers, with Hulett receiving the loss in 0.1 innings pitched.
The Trojans end the three-game series tomorrow at 10 a.m. to determine the weekend winner at the ULM Softball Complex.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Cato, Olivia (4-4)
L: Hulett, G (7-4)

Batting:
2B: McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1
HR: Baker, Libby 1
RBI: Sinness, Jade 1 ; McKinney, Taylor 3 ; Baker, Libby 3
SH: Thompson, Audra 2 ; de Leon, Katelynn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sinness, Jade 2 ; Riggs, D'Aun 1 ; McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Baker, Libby 1 ; Thompson, Audra 1 ; Gaton, Kennedi 1
HBP: Thompson, Audra 1

Batting:
HR: Selman, C 1 ; Page, K 1
RBI: Selman, C 1 ; Page, K 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Selman, C 1 ; Page, K 1
SB: Broddick, T 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
Players Mentioned
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