Troy University Athletics
Troy University
2-1
UT Martin
1-3
Trojans Walk It Off in Extra Innings To Sweep The Second Day of Opening Weekend
2/10/2024 11:01:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – Troy softball swept the second day of the Trojan Invitational at the Troy Softball Complex. The Trojans battled through a rain delay beating UT Martin in the opening game, 7-3, before walking off Samford, 6-5, in extra innings in the nightcap.
"That was a battle, and it was one that we will always remember," said head coach Eric Newell. "Anytime you get a walk-off those are memorable, so we are excited for that and happy for Boltzy. That will be a memory that she will take through the rest of her life."
Cassidy Boltz delivered as a pinch hitter for the Trojans in both of her at-bats today. The junior transfer pinch hit for Sarah Beth Brake in the eighth inning against Samford and bounced an infield single off the pitcher to plate the winning run.
Taylor McKinney powered the Trojans offense throughout the day, hitting 4-8 with five total bases and two RBIs. The junior second baseman ripped a base hit through the infield that sparked a 5-run inning in the bottom of fifth against UT Martin.
True freshman Alyssa Faircloth shut down the Skyhawks in her collegiate debut, striking out five batters through 5.1 innings and limiting UT Martin to three runs on six hits.
Libby Baker pitched a career-high eight innings in the win against Samford. The senior finished the day with three strikeouts and three earned runs on five hits.
Game One: Troy 7, UT Martin 3
The Trojans got off to a slow start, staying in a deadlock with the Skyhawks through two innings. UT Martin broke the tie after returning from the rain delay in the top of the third inning with an RBI single from Katie Dreiling.
The Trojans answered with a two-spot after capitalizing on a wild pitch by UT Martin's Brooklynn Linneman. McKinney stepped up to the plate and ripped an RBI double to the wall to give Troy its first lead of the game, 2-1.
Troy blew the game out of reach in the bottom of the fifth inning where they scored five runs to extend the lead 7-1. McKinney got the action started with a base hit which Becca Leigh Chadwick followed, knocking a single of her own. Baker caused a fielding error by UT Martin's shortstop Kyrsten Brown in the next at-bat that would allow McKinney to score.
Audra Thompson stepped up to the plate with the bases juiced and ripped a two-run double. Cassidy Boltz entered the game as a pinch hitter before clearing the bases with a single to give the Trojans a 7-1 lead.
The Skyhawks scored a pair of runs in the top of the sixth before Haley Pittman came in to shut down their hopes of a comeback. Pittman pitched 1.2 innings of relief, only allowing one hit to close the game for the Trojans.
Game Two: Troy 6, Samford 5
The Bulldogs gave themselves an early lead after Grier Bruce hit a 2-run homer in the third inning. However, the Trojans were quick to respond with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.
McKinney once again delivered for the Trojans, driving home a run with an infield single. Chadwick cleared the bases with a line-drive up the middle that plated two runs and gave Troy its first lead of the game.
The Trojans kept their 3-2 lead until the top of the sixth where a pair of walks combined with an error tied the game at three runs apiece.
The game entered extra innings where Samford scored in the top of the frame off a two-RBI single. The Trojans answered with an RBI single to right field from Thompson that tied the game with a throwing error by the right fielder.
Boltz entered the game for Brake and drove home the winning run with an infield single that bounced off the pitcher's glove.
Thoughts from Coach Newell
"We got to take it one game at a time, one step at a time. We are happy that we are 3-1 and we are hoping that we can avenge the loss with UNA tomorrow. We have Samford again tomorrow, so we know that they are going to be hungry to get back at us. We are excited for tomorrow, but we are going to enjoy tonight for a few hours."
Notables
- Alyssa Faircloth made her collegiate debut, earning her first career win. The freshman hurled 5.1 innings, struck out five batters and began her career with a 3.94 ERA.
- Becca Leigh Chadwick recorded her first collegiate hit in her third collegiate at bat. Chadwick earned her first collegiate RBIs with a two-run single in her sixth at bat.
- Taylor McKinney went 4-8 for the day, hitting at .400 on the season.
- Troy's 6-5 win over Samford was the Trojans 45th all-time win against the Bulldogs.
- Libby Baker's eight inning performance is the longest of her career, surpassing her previous career high 7.1 innings pitched against Southern Miss on March 6, 2021.
- Cassidy Boltz earns her first and second career hits, including the walk-off single that gave Troy the extra inning win against the Bulldogs.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Faircloth, Alyssa (1-0)
L: Linneman,Brooklynn (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Fuller,Kaci 1 ; Blume,Avry 1 ; Dreiling,Katie 1
SF: Blume,Avry 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harley,Kyla 1 ; Hustey,Jordyn 1 ; Brown,Kyrsten 1
SB: Harley,Kyla 1
HBP: Harley,Kyla 1 ; Gutierrez,Annie 1
Batting:
2B: McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Thompson, Audra 1
RBI: McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Thompson, Audra 2 ; Boltz, Cassidy 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sinness, Jade 1 ; McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Chadwick, Becca Leigh 1 ; Baker, Libby 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1 ; Thompson, Audra 1 ; Turner, Natalie 1
SB: McKinney, Taylor 1 ; McCord, Jaida 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1 ; Boltz, Cassidy 1 ; Turner, Natalie 2
