Finch Powers Troy Past Charleston Southern, Trojans Win JU/UNF Spring Break Challenge

Sunday, March 5

Jacksonville, Fla.

11 a.m.

Troy University

14-7

Charleston Southern

8-8

Charleston Southern

Troy

Finch Powers Troy Past Charleston Southern, Trojans Win JU/UNF Spring Break Challenge

3/5/2023 2:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Anslee Finch hit her fourth home run of the weekend to lift Troy past Charleston Southern, 6-3, in the JU/UNF Spring Break Challenge finale Sunday afternoon at the UNF Softball Complex.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the second, Katelynn de Leon and D'Aun Riggs singled with two outs, and an obstruction call at the plate tied the game. Finch then took the first pitch she saw from Charleston Southern's Riley Lauffer and deposited it over the center field wall for her fifth home run of the season.

Finch finished the weekend batting .500 (9-of-18) with a double and 10 RBIs to go along with her four home runs; she slugged 1.222 and posted a 1.772 OPS in Troy's five games. Libby Baker slugged 1.000 with three doubles and two home runs, while de Leon hit .500 and Taylor McKinney drove in six runs.

Charleston Southern (8-8) pulled within two, 5-3, in the fifth after back-to-back singles opened the frame and Gracie Prince singled to right-center to plate a run. However, a second run in the inning was pulled off the board as Weslin Jones was called out for leaving early on what would have been a sac fly.

The Trojans added an insurance run in the sixth after Audra Thompson led off the inning being hit by a pitch, and pinch runner Natalie Turner scored from first on a sac bunt from Kennedi Gaton and a Buccaneers' throwing error.

Leanna Johnson (10-2) struck out five and scattered five hits over five innings of work to pick up the win in the circle. She allowed three runs – one earned – and is now just seven wins shy of becoming Troy's all-time wins leader. Olivia Cato tossed the final two innings to earn the first save of the season by a Troy pitcher.

Lauffer (1-7) took the loss for Charleston Southern allowing six runs – four earned – on five hits; she walked six, hit two batters and struck out four.

Troy travels to Montgomery on Wednesday for a mid-week clash with Alabama State before returning to Jacksonville next weekend for another tournament at North Florida.