Troy University Athletics
Friday, March 31
Hattiesburg, Miss.
5 p.m.
Troy University
24-9-1, 5-1-1
5
at
1
Southern Mississippi
15-13, 0-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Troy
1
0
1
2
1
0
0
5
7
0
Southern Miss
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
2
Homers From Gaton and Baker Win Game One Against Southern Miss
3/31/2023 8:46:00 PM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – On Friday night, two homers from Kennedi Gaton and Libby Baker set Troy apart from Southern Miss in game one at the Southern Miss Softball Complex, 5-1.
Audra Thompson set up the dagger to open the fourth inning on a single through the left side on a 1-2 count. Then, with the score 2-1, Gaton found her spot on a 2-2 count, rocketing a home run out to left center for the 4-1 lead. Later in the top of the fifth, Baker went the distance on a solo homer in center field to put the exclamation point on a 5-1 win.
For the first time in seven games, Troy grabbed its first run of the ballgame in the first inning. The run started when D'Aun Riggs took her fourth pitch and produced a slap hit to right-center. She darted to third base for her fifth triple of 2023. After a full-count walk for Taylor McKinney and a steal, Baker stepped up to the plate. Up 2-1 in the count, the first baseman found the gap on the left side line, driving Riggs home, 1-0.
With runners now on third and first, Anslee Finch tried to bring McKinney home. A direct shot to the third baseman gave USM a choice where it decided to take out McKinney at home and give Finch the fielder's choice. A wild pitch by Morgan Leinstock and a win at the plate by Kelly Horne (4-1) for the walk loaded the bases with two outs. Leinstock stepped up, delivering three straight in the zone to get out of the inning.
USM's lone run came in the bottom of the second by way of Jana Lee. The count stood at 2-2 when she connected and sent the ball over the right field wall. The remainder of the game saw USM manage just one more hit, which came in the bottom of the fifth via Natalie Taylor.
The Trojans retook the lead with the same lineup, having Riggs single to the pitcher and McKinney take the walk. Baker drilled one to the third baseman, forcing a fielder's choice as the defender elected to force out Riggs at third. A steal to third by McKinney set Finch up for the sacrifice fly out to center field as the sophomore scored 2-1.
Troy's defense, led by ace pitcher Leanna Johnson (18-3), was flawless on the evening, with zero errors and allowing two hits. Johnson struck out six batters to be just two strikeouts shy of 1,000 in her career.
Game two of the three-game series continues tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
Audra Thompson set up the dagger to open the fourth inning on a single through the left side on a 1-2 count. Then, with the score 2-1, Gaton found her spot on a 2-2 count, rocketing a home run out to left center for the 4-1 lead. Later in the top of the fifth, Baker went the distance on a solo homer in center field to put the exclamation point on a 5-1 win.
For the first time in seven games, Troy grabbed its first run of the ballgame in the first inning. The run started when D'Aun Riggs took her fourth pitch and produced a slap hit to right-center. She darted to third base for her fifth triple of 2023. After a full-count walk for Taylor McKinney and a steal, Baker stepped up to the plate. Up 2-1 in the count, the first baseman found the gap on the left side line, driving Riggs home, 1-0.
With runners now on third and first, Anslee Finch tried to bring McKinney home. A direct shot to the third baseman gave USM a choice where it decided to take out McKinney at home and give Finch the fielder's choice. A wild pitch by Morgan Leinstock and a win at the plate by Kelly Horne (4-1) for the walk loaded the bases with two outs. Leinstock stepped up, delivering three straight in the zone to get out of the inning.
USM's lone run came in the bottom of the second by way of Jana Lee. The count stood at 2-2 when she connected and sent the ball over the right field wall. The remainder of the game saw USM manage just one more hit, which came in the bottom of the fifth via Natalie Taylor.
The Trojans retook the lead with the same lineup, having Riggs single to the pitcher and McKinney take the walk. Baker drilled one to the third baseman, forcing a fielder's choice as the defender elected to force out Riggs at third. A steal to third by McKinney set Finch up for the sacrifice fly out to center field as the sophomore scored 2-1.
Troy's defense, led by ace pitcher Leanna Johnson (18-3), was flawless on the evening, with zero errors and allowing two hits. Johnson struck out six batters to be just two strikeouts shy of 1,000 in her career.
Game two of the three-game series continues tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Leanna (18-3)
L: Leinstock (8-10)
Batting:
3B: Riggs, D'Aun 1
HR: Baker, Libby 1 ; Gaton, Kennedi 1
RBI: Baker, Libby 2 ; Finch, Anslee 1 ; Gaton, Kennedi 2
SH: de Leon, Katelynn 1
SF: Finch, Anslee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Riggs, D'Aun 1 ; McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Baker, Libby 1 ; Thompson, Audra 1 ; Gaton, Kennedi 1
SB: McKinney, Taylor 3
Batting:
HR: Lee 1
RBI: Lee 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lee 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
1b/ph
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
ss/1b
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballUTIL
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballPlayer Postgame Press Conference (Luke Hodge, Tray Taylor) - No. 8 Clemson
Sunday, September 07
Gerad Parker Postgame Press Conference - No. 8 Clemson
Sunday, September 07
Troy at No. 8 Clemson (Full Highlights)
Sunday, September 07
Josh Lauer Postgame Press Conference - Jackson State
Saturday, September 06