Leanna Johnson Becomes Troy’s All-Time Wins Leader with 94; Trojans Secure Series Clinching Win Over ULM

Sunday, March 26

Monroe, La.

10 a.m.

Troy University

23-9-1, 0

ULM

19-14, 0

Troy

ULM

Leanna Johnson Becomes Troy’s All-Time Wins Leader with 94; Trojans Secure Series Clinching Win Over ULM

3/26/2023 1:52:00 PM | Softball

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

MONROE, La. – A sacrifice fly by Libby Baker in the top of the fifth propelled Troy to a series-clinching 9-2 win over ULM as Leanna Johnson became Troy's all-time leader in wins Sunday morning with 94 at the ULM Softball Complex.

The Trojans (23-9-1, 4-1-1 SBC) struck the earliest they have all weekend at the top of the second. Down two outs, Audra Thompson, drew the walk on four straight outside the zone and advanced quickly when Kennedi Gaton grabbed the first hit of the game on her second pitch. Katelynn de Leon finished the job for her fifth RBI of 2023 as she threaded the needle past both the first and second baseman to bring Thompson home.

Jade Sinness kept things rolling for Troy on the next at-bat. Troy's lead-off batter was up in the count 3-1 but swung one straight to the shortstop. The ball went straight at the opposition, which caused the ball to fly up when it connected with her glove. The play gave Sinness enough time to cross first base and send Gaton home, 2-0.

ULM's (19-14, 3-3 SBC) chance to respond came at the bottom of the third when Jacelyn Buck doubled to left center on a full count – Kassidy Giddens would enter to pinch run. Johnson had the 0-2 advantage on Taylor Broddick, forcing her to rattle a shot to Thompson. Thompson reacted quickly to beat the runner at first for the first out. Another spectacular play came with a 2-2 count on Lourdes Bacon. Bacon lined one out to Sinness, who rocketed one to de Leon for the double-play and got Troy out of the inning with the 2-0 shutout intact.

The shutout's end came in the bottom of the fourth as the Warhawks tied the game 2-2 after Ashlan Ard earned a walk on a four-pitch walk and Madison Blount doubled to left center to advance the pinch runner, Madelyn Fletcher, to third. On her second pitch, Kennedy Johnson brought Fletcher in for the 2-1 score on a sac bunt. Campbell Selman forced the second run when she was hit by a pitch and attempted to steal second, which allowed England (Blount's pinch runner) to score the tying run from third.

The deciding run came at the top of the fifth after ULM's Victoria Abrams walked Sinness and Riggs and Taylor McKinney advanced both into scoring position on a groundout to shortstop. With Baker at the plate, she sent the first pitch she saw to center field to provide Sinness enough time to tag up for the game-winning run, 3-2. Anslee Finch gave Troy some cushion on a 1-1 count with a single to the six as Riggs came home, 4-2.

Troy got some insurance on a trio of Trojans loading up the bases as de Leon singled for the second time and Sinness completed her perfect 2-for-2 day on a single of her own. Riggs loaded the bases when she fought a 1-2 count to knock one to shortstop, who suffered a fielding error. With the bases loaded, McKinney unloaded a shot well over the center field wall for the grand slam, 8-2 – eighth homer of 2023 for McKinney.

Johnson (17-3) convincingly earned her 94^th career win in her 158^th appearance, ending the day in six innings for an ERA of 1.31. After Friday's loss, the senior got her revenge on Abrams, dropping her to 4-4 on the year on eight earned runs.

Troy's road trip continues to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a weekend series with Southern Miss in the Southern Miss Softball Complex.