Troy University Athletics
Sunday, April 2
Hattiesburg, Miss.
12 p.m.
Troy University
26-9-1, 7-1-1
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Southern Mississippi
15-15, 0-9
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Troy
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Southern Miss
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Troy Run Rules Southern Miss to Complete Weekend Sweep
4/2/2023 3:31:00 PM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – A four-run inning in the third and fifth – on a grand slam from Taylor McKinney – by Troy, completed the sweep in run-rule fashion, 11-3, at the Southern Miss Softball Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The floodgates opened at the top of the third, 2-1, for the Trojans (26-9-1, 7-1-1 SBC) with four hits, four runs and three left on base. The big inning started with McKinney as she battled to a full count before ripping one through the left side for a single, followed by a steal to second. Libby Baker won her trip at the plate, eyeing the ball through for a walk on a 4-2 count. Anslee Finch loaded the bases on her second pitch, lining one to the third baseman. Before USM's (15-15, 0-9 SBC) Nealy McManus could react, McKinney reached third with no outs.
Jade Sinness broke the seal when she singled to right field to bring in McKinney for run No. 1, 3-1. Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year Kelly Horne followed that up by applying pressure on the pitcher, Morgan Leinstock, to earn a walk after five pitches, which allowed all the runners to advance, including Baker, to home, 4-1. A pitching change to Paige Kilgore, Walker pinch-running for Horne and a strikeout by Audra Thompson brought Kennedi Gaton to the plate. Down 0-2 in the count, Gaton connected to center field for two RBIs in Finch and Sinness, 6-1.
Two errors by Troy gave Southern Miss life in the bottom of the third when it put runners on first and second. Add a 4-0 walk for Hannah Borden, and the bases were loaded with no outs. Lorna Agren, who went 0-for-3 on the day, put the ball in play to score McManus, 6-2, despite being caught at first. The Golden Eagles' second run in the inning, 6-3, happened on a sac fly to right field by Jana Lee to bring in Maria Smith.
A scoreless fourth inning was met with an onslaught by Troy to put the run rule in effect, 11-3. After Gaton got hit by a pitch, Katelynn de Leon singled to left field and D'Aunn Riggs made it to first on a fielder's choice as Gaton beat the tag at third, bases were loaded for McKinney. With the count at 1-1, McKinney found her pitch and smashed one out to center field for her second grand slam of 2023, 10-3.
The Trojans weren't done, as Baker got her first hit of the ballgame with a single to right field. Natalie Turner came in to pinch run and steal second, putting the game-ending run in scoring position. Finch tried to bring her home but lined out to second. Instead, Sinness secured the eight-run lead when she singled to the left. Turner jumped off the hit and darted her way home with enough time to walk across the plate, 11-3.
From there, Leanna Johnson (19-3) and the Troy defense finished the job in 15 pitches. A pop-up to second, single to right, fly out to center field and Johnson's 1,004th career strikeout ended the game in five innings for the third time in 2023.
Troy returns home for a three-game series at the Troy Softball Complex when it welcomes Coastal Carolina from April 6-8.
The floodgates opened at the top of the third, 2-1, for the Trojans (26-9-1, 7-1-1 SBC) with four hits, four runs and three left on base. The big inning started with McKinney as she battled to a full count before ripping one through the left side for a single, followed by a steal to second. Libby Baker won her trip at the plate, eyeing the ball through for a walk on a 4-2 count. Anslee Finch loaded the bases on her second pitch, lining one to the third baseman. Before USM's (15-15, 0-9 SBC) Nealy McManus could react, McKinney reached third with no outs.
Jade Sinness broke the seal when she singled to right field to bring in McKinney for run No. 1, 3-1. Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year Kelly Horne followed that up by applying pressure on the pitcher, Morgan Leinstock, to earn a walk after five pitches, which allowed all the runners to advance, including Baker, to home, 4-1. A pitching change to Paige Kilgore, Walker pinch-running for Horne and a strikeout by Audra Thompson brought Kennedi Gaton to the plate. Down 0-2 in the count, Gaton connected to center field for two RBIs in Finch and Sinness, 6-1.
Two errors by Troy gave Southern Miss life in the bottom of the third when it put runners on first and second. Add a 4-0 walk for Hannah Borden, and the bases were loaded with no outs. Lorna Agren, who went 0-for-3 on the day, put the ball in play to score McManus, 6-2, despite being caught at first. The Golden Eagles' second run in the inning, 6-3, happened on a sac fly to right field by Jana Lee to bring in Maria Smith.
A scoreless fourth inning was met with an onslaught by Troy to put the run rule in effect, 11-3. After Gaton got hit by a pitch, Katelynn de Leon singled to left field and D'Aunn Riggs made it to first on a fielder's choice as Gaton beat the tag at third, bases were loaded for McKinney. With the count at 1-1, McKinney found her pitch and smashed one out to center field for her second grand slam of 2023, 10-3.
The Trojans weren't done, as Baker got her first hit of the ballgame with a single to right field. Natalie Turner came in to pinch run and steal second, putting the game-ending run in scoring position. Finch tried to bring her home but lined out to second. Instead, Sinness secured the eight-run lead when she singled to the left. Turner jumped off the hit and darted her way home with enough time to walk across the plate, 11-3.
From there, Leanna Johnson (19-3) and the Troy defense finished the job in 15 pitches. A pop-up to second, single to right, fly out to center field and Johnson's 1,004th career strikeout ended the game in five innings for the third time in 2023.
Troy returns home for a three-game series at the Troy Softball Complex when it welcomes Coastal Carolina from April 6-8.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Leanna (19-3)
L: Lee (3-4)
Batting:
2B: McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Gaton, Kennedi 1
HR: McKinney, Taylor 1
RBI: McKinney, Taylor 5 ; Sinness, Jade 2 ; Horne, Kelly 2 ; Gaton, Kennedi 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Riggs, D'Aun 2 ; McKinney, Taylor 3 ; Baker, Libby 1 ; Turner, Natalie 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1 ; Sinness, Jade 1 ; Gaton, Kennedi 1 ; Hughes, Aayanah 1
SB: McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Turner, Natalie 1
HBP: Gaton, Kennedi 1
Batting:
RBI: Agren 1 ; Lee 1 ; Jennings 1
SF: Lee 1 ; Jennings 1
Base Running:
RUNS: M. Smith 1 ; Lee 1 ; McManus 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
5
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
C
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OF
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ SoftballUTIL
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
IF
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