Troy University Athletics
Friday, April 28
Troy, Ala.
5 p.m.
Troy University
31-15-1, 12-6-1
3
vs
0
Georgia Southern
17-29, 6-13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Georgia Southern
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
Troy
0
1
0
0
2
0
X
3
6
0
Johnson Wins 100th Career Game, Troy Downs Georgia Southern in SBC Opener
4/28/2023 7:51:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – Leanna Johnson reached another milestone Friday evening as the Troy senior became just the 105th player in NCAA DI history to reach the 100-win plateau in their career as she tossed her 34th career shutout in Troy's 3-0 victory over Georgia Southern on Friday at the Troy Softball Complex.
Johnson (23-6) struck out nine over her seven scoreless frames and scattered four hits and four walks. The Brantley, Ala., native set the Troy record for wins and passed the 1,000-strikeout mark for her career earlier this season.
"Leanna does it again," head coach Eric Newell said. "I'm so happy for her tonight and for her career as well. Kelly's home run was a big one at the time as it gave us some breathing room and we needed every run tonight. It wasn't our best hitting performance, but we defended well and got the runs when we needed them. Ready to get back at it tomorrow and see if we can swing it a little better."
Troy (31-15-1, 12-6-1 SBC) will honor four seniors prior to Sunday's series finale, and all four played a part in Troy's victory on Friday. Johnson's impact was easy to decipher with her work in the circle. Kelly Horne hit the 30th home run of her career and second of the season to give Troy a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.
Catcher Katelynn de Leon singled with two outs in the second inning, and Katie Lively worked a walk as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.
Kennedi Gaton put the Trojans on top, 1-0, with a blistering single past third base to score Taylor McKinney with two outs in the second; McKinney opened the frame drawing a walk. Horne's home run made it 2-0 Troy, and McKinney added a run-scoring single back up the middle later in the fifth after Libby Baker walked and pinch runner Natalie Turner stole second.
Alana Barnard (1-8) took the loss for the Eagles (17-29, 6-13) after she allowed three runs on six hits in 5.1 innings of work. She struggled with her control against a tight strike zone, walking six and striking out none.
Troy goes for the series victory, which would be its fifth in seven Sun Belt weekends, Saturday at 11 a.m.
Johnson (23-6) struck out nine over her seven scoreless frames and scattered four hits and four walks. The Brantley, Ala., native set the Troy record for wins and passed the 1,000-strikeout mark for her career earlier this season.
"Leanna does it again," head coach Eric Newell said. "I'm so happy for her tonight and for her career as well. Kelly's home run was a big one at the time as it gave us some breathing room and we needed every run tonight. It wasn't our best hitting performance, but we defended well and got the runs when we needed them. Ready to get back at it tomorrow and see if we can swing it a little better."
Troy (31-15-1, 12-6-1 SBC) will honor four seniors prior to Sunday's series finale, and all four played a part in Troy's victory on Friday. Johnson's impact was easy to decipher with her work in the circle. Kelly Horne hit the 30th home run of her career and second of the season to give Troy a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning.
Catcher Katelynn de Leon singled with two outs in the second inning, and Katie Lively worked a walk as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning.
Kennedi Gaton put the Trojans on top, 1-0, with a blistering single past third base to score Taylor McKinney with two outs in the second; McKinney opened the frame drawing a walk. Horne's home run made it 2-0 Troy, and McKinney added a run-scoring single back up the middle later in the fifth after Libby Baker walked and pinch runner Natalie Turner stole second.
Alana Barnard (1-8) took the loss for the Eagles (17-29, 6-13) after she allowed three runs on six hits in 5.1 innings of work. She struggled with her control against a tight strike zone, walking six and striking out none.
Troy goes for the series victory, which would be its fifth in seven Sun Belt weekends, Saturday at 11 a.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Johnson, Leanna (23-6)
L: Alana Barnard (1-8)
Batting:
SH: Courtney Ball 2 ; Olivia Creamer 1
Base Running:
HBP: Faith Barth 1 ; Katie Perkins 1
Batting:
HR: Horne, Kelly 1
RBI: Horne, Kelly 1 ; McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Gaton, Kennedi 1
SH: Thompson, Audra 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Horne, Kelly 1 ; Turner, Natalie 1 ; McKinney, Taylor 1
SB: Turner, Natalie 1 ; Thompson, Audra 1
HBP: Thompson, Audra 1
PO: Sinness, Jade 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
INF
/ SoftballINF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballUTIL
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball𝗕𝗘𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗟 - 𝗦𝟭𝟬, 𝗘𝟲
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Football Press Conference (Players) - ULM Game
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Eric Newell Postgame Press Conference - Tallahassee State College
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