Pair of Homers Down Troy in Game Two

Saturday, April 15

Harrisonburg, Va.

9 a.m.

Troy University

29-12-1, 10-3-1

James Madison

22-13, 7-7

TROY

James Madison

4/15/2023 12:56:00 PM | Softball

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

HARRISONBURG, Va. – A pair of home runs by James Madison in the bottom of the third pushed Troy down to tie the series, 1-1, with a 4-0 result at the Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday morning.

Olivia Cato (5-6) was solid to start, keeping the Dukes (22-13, 7-7 SBC) quiet through the first two innings. Then, Abbie Campbell and Avery Pinder teased home runs with deep balls hit to left field. That's when KK Mathis – hit one homer yesterday – at the top of the order bombed one over the center field wall for a 1-0 lead. Kylee Gleason managed to win a full count to reach first base before Hannah Shifflett hit a two-run homer, 3-0, for the third three-run inning of the series.

The Trojans (29-12-1, 10-3-1 SBC) continued to battle in the fourth inning after Kelly Horne singled through the left side, Aayannah Hughes – pinch runner for Horne – advanced on a wild pitch and Audra Thompson earned a full-count walk. With runners set up and one out on the scoreboard, Kennedi Gaton entered the batter's box. The third baseman connected, but the left fielder tracked it down for the second out. Katelynn de Leon was next after she lined out to right field, which left both on base.

JMU added some insurance in the sixth as Jasmine Hall doubled to left center on her fourth pitch. The Dukes subbed in Kamryn Nash to pinch run and Reed Butler as a pinch hitter. Butler seized her opportunity on the first pitch, placing the ball in center field to allow Nash to dash from second to home, 4-0.

Troy had one last opportunity in the top of the seventh with Thompson up to bat. Thompson started it off right when she got her first hit of the game on a single to center field. With a 2-0 count, Gaton lined up and shot one to the third baseman. Campbell quickly turned it to second for out one, as Gaton was initially called safe. However, a challenge by JMU ended successfully as the umpires found that Thompson had interfered with the double play, resulting in both runners being called out. Even a single by Emma Grace Walker couldn't give the Trojans enough life as D'Aun Riggs ended the game on a groundout to the pitcher.

With the series on the line, Troy prepares for game three, scheduled tomorrow at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park.