Troy Drops First Series of 2023 to James Madison

Sunday, April 16

Harrisonburg, Va.

10 a.m.

Troy University

29-13-1, 10-4-1

James Madison

24-13, 8-7

TROY

James Madison

Troy Drops First Series of 2023 to James Madison

4/16/2023 2:07:00 PM | Softball

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

HARRISONBURG, Va. – For the first time in 2023, the Troy softball team falls in a Sun Belt series after a 10-7 loss to James Madison in Sunday's game three at the Veterans Memorial Stadium.

A series that saw the Trojans (29-13-1, 10-4-1 SBC) and Dukes (23-13, 8-7 SBC) hit almost identical at 24-21, respectively, also had JMU send 10 over the wall to Troy's four.

JMU was hot early in the first despite Leanna Johnson (22-5) striking out its first two batters. However, a 4-1 walk for Hannah Shifflett allowed Bella Henzler to rocket a two-run homer out to center field, 2-0. Hallie Hall kept the homer coming on her third pitch as she shot a solo to left field, 3-0.

The exclamation point for the Dukes came at the bottom of the fourth. Johnson battled during the inning after allowing Kylee Gleason to single up the middle and a full-count walk by Shifflett. The senior followed it with a four-pitch strikeout on Henzler before Hallie Hall earned another full-count walk to load the bases. Just when it seemed the ace would get out of the inning after sitting Jasmine Hall down on a swinging strikeout, JMU subbed Reed Butler in for Kate Carrier. On her second pitch, Butler hit a grand slam well over the center-field wall, 7-0, to end Johnson's day in the circle.

The Trojans didn't go quietly as the fourth inning started with back-to-back hits from Jade Sinness – single up the middle – and Libby Baker – double to center field – to set up runners on second and third. Jade McCord came in to pinch run for Baker before Anslee Finch sent a shot straight through the middle to score Sinness 7-1. Then, with one out on the board, after Audra Thompson struck out, Kennedi Gaton took the sac fly to left field, which scored McCord 7-2.

A quick clap back from JMU occurred in the bottom of the inning. Runners advanced to first and second off a hit by pitch and walk for KK Mathis and Shifflett, respectively. That scenario allowed a single deep to left center by Henzler to push JMU's lead to 8-2.

Troy's attempt to rally wasn't finished as Sinness earned a five-pitch walk to set up Baker, who finished 4-of-4 with two RBIS, at the plate in the top of the fifth. Baker battled through the count and with it standing at 3-2, the first baseman sent her 10th home run of 2023 over center field to trim the deficit to 8-4.

Mathis matched Baker's homer with a two-run shot of her own, 10-4, over left field in the bottom of the inning after Butler earned a walk on a 4-1 count.

The home run parade was in full swing in the final two innings for Troy as Thompson became the sixth player to hit a homer with a solo shot to left center in the sixth, 10-5. The seventh player came via Finch in the seventh on a two-run home run, 10-7. Baker set up the two-run shot after completing her perfect day at the plate with a single to left center. Then on her first pitch, Finch bombed one that curved to hit the foul pole to mark her seventh of 2023. But, unfortunately, that's where the parade ended, as Kelly Horne ended the game with a foul out to left field.

A return to Troy Softball Complex is scheduled for next weekend when the Trojans take on Louisiana.