Troy Blanks Georgia Southern on Senior Day to Complete Sweep

Sunday, April 30

Troy, Ala.

12:30 p.m.

Troy University

33-15-1, 14-6-1

Georgia Southern

17-31, 6-15

Georgia Southern

Troy

Troy Blanks Georgia Southern on Senior Day to Complete Sweep

4/30/2023 2:56:00 PM | Softball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – You couldn't script a Senior Day much better than what transpired on the field at the Troy Softball Complex Sunday in Troy's 8-0 victory over Georgia Southern. Leanna Johnson took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, and Kelly Horne hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the frame as the Trojans completed the Sun Belt Conference sweep.

Troy (33-15-1, 14-6-1 SBC) finishes the year 14-8-1 at home with the sweep over Georgia Southern (17-31-, 6-15). The Trojans close out the regular season next weekend at South Alabama with Sun Belt Tournament seeding on the line.

"Talk about an ending," head coach Eric Newell said. "It wasn't a close one, but what a special ending for Kelly Horne, I couldn't have happened to a better young lady. It was one of those moments you dream about. And what a game for Leanna Johnson. To pitch a one-hitter in your final game on your home field, I mean, are you kidding me? Those are television endings for those two right there. This weekend was all about the seniors and each of them, Johnson, Horne, Katelynn de Leon and Katie Lively, stepped up big all weekend, and I can't say enough about how much they mean to this program. They are rocks that this program can depend on."

Johnson (14-6) allowed just two walks through the first 5.1 innings of the game before Faith Barth hit a one-out double off the wall in right field. Despite just missing out on the fifth no-hitter of her career, Johnson recorded her 35^th career shutout – second of the weekend – with five strikeouts. In her two starts this weekend, Johnson struck out 14 batters and scattered five hits in her final 13 innings of work at home.

Horne, who finished her final weekend at home 5-for-9 with three RBIs and two home runs, launched a no-doubter over the wall in left to send the teams home early for the second straight day. She went 2-for-3 with a walk and a pair of RBIs in Sunday's contest.

Libby Baker put the Trojans on the board in the home half of the first with a double to right after back-to-back walks to open the frame. Taylor McKinney ripped a double of her own to plate the second run of the frame before Anslee Finch drove home a run with a sac fly, and Audra Thompson plated a run with a squeeze bunt.

McKinney blasted her 11^th home run of the season to push Troy's lead to 5-0 in the third, and then a wild pitch and Horne RBI single pulled the Trojans within a run of an early finish in the fifth.

Also playing for the final time at home, Katelynn de Leon went 2-for-3 and Katie Lively drew a walk in three plate appearances.

Alana Barnard (1-9) took the loss in the circle for the Eagles after allowing seven runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings of work.