Softball Descends on Lafayette for Sun Belt Tournament

LAFAYETTE, La. – Three wins in three days, that's all that stands between Troy Softball and a berth in the NCAA Tournament as the Trojans open play in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Thursday against Texas State at 4 p.m. at Louisiana's Lamson Park, with live coverage on ESPN+.

Troy (33-18-1, 14-9-1) enters the tournament as the number four seed in a league that ranks as the sixth-best in all of collegiate softball. Backed by four All-Sun Belt selections, the Trojans join Louisiana and Texas State as the only teams to finish in the top four of the league standings in each of the last four seasons.

The Sun Belt Tournament unveils a new single-elimination format this year instead of the traditional double-elimination seen in previous years. Four teams play Wednesday to whittle the field down to eight, with four quarterfinal matchups set for Thursday.

The matchup with the fifth-seeded Bobcats (33-22-1, 13-9-1) is a throwback to the opening weekend of league play, where Troy claimed its first series victory over Texas State since 2018; the Bobcats entered the weekend coming off victories over Texas and Alabama. The two sides tied the finale due to Texas State's travel plans.

In the doubleheader sweep to open the series, the Trojans plated a combined 13 runs behind dramatic home runs from Libby Baker and Taylor McKinney, two of Troy's All-Sun Belt picks, while in the circle, Leanna Johnson earned a win in game one and a save in game two.

McKinney and Baker finished the year tied for the team lead with 12 home runs, while McKinney drove in 51 batters and batted at a team-leading .347 clip. Her RBI total ranked third in the Sun Belt, while her 21 RBIs in SBC games were tops in the conference.

As a team, Troy ranked in the top third in the league in home runs, runs scored, triples, walks, on-base percentage, sac flies and sac bunts.

In the circle, Johnson finished second in the league with 24 wins, 17 complete games and six shutouts and was third with 184 strikeouts.

A Thursday win over the Texas State pits Troy likely against top-seeded Louisiana on Friday at 7 p.m. in the semifinals. The Cajuns play either No. 8 ULM or No. 9 Georgia State in their quarterfinal matchup Thursday evening.

Softball Descends on Lafayette for Sun Belt Tournament

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Players Mentioned

Libby Baker

Leanna Johnson

Taylor McKinney

Troy University Athletics