Troy Splits Games on Final Day of Trojan Invitational

Sunday, February 11

Troy, Ala.

9 a.m.

Troy University

4-1

North Alabama

4-1

North Alabama

Troy

Troy Splits Games on Final Day of Trojan Invitational

2/11/2024 6:03:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery

By: Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy split the final two games of the Trojan Invitational on Sunday afternoon at the Troy Softball Complex, taking on North Alabama before battling Samford.

The Trojans (4-2) walked-off the first game to defeat North Alabama (4-1), 2-1. Then, the Trojans fell to Samford (1-4) on a tough 5-1 loss.

Game One: Troy – 2, North Alabama – 1

Troy struck first, 1-0, in the bottom of the first inning when Becca Leigh Chadwick hit a sacrifice fly to score D'Aun Riggs who drew a walk earlier.

From there the two teams remained scoreless through the middle frames until the Lions got the top of the sixth. With two runners on, Jaiden Farnetti singled to third base, bringing Briley Drover home to tie the game, 1-1.

Neither team managed to earn the winning run in regulation, sending the game into extra innings. With the run rule in place, Mia Tidmore started on second to open the eighth and the top of the lineup set to bat.

Riggs singled up the left side to get Tidmore to third, while Jade Sinness stepped up to the plate. With two runners on, Sinness put in the walk-off single to center field, sending Tidmore home and securing the victory for the Trojans.

Game Two: Samford – 5, Troy – 1

Game two started quickly with Samford getting on the board first with two runs in the top of the first, 2-0.

The game settled down through frames two and three, before picking back up in the fourth inning. The Bulldogs loaded the bases on a two out rally with one walk and two infield singles. One hit by pitch allowed Olivia Shaw to cross home and extend Samford's led, 3-0.

With the bases loaded, Troy made a pitching change and brought Olivia Cato in. With a new pitcher, Grier Bruce would continue the two-out rally, singling down the left field line and scoring one more run, 4-0, before the Trojans got out of the inning with a flyout to centerfield.

The Trojan offense aimed to chip away at the Bulldogs' lead in the bottom of the fourth. Kayden Dunn drew a walk, where she would move around the bases when Anslee Finch singled up the middle and a flyout for Troy. Emma Faulk hit the sacrifice fly-in to score Dunn, 4-1.

Cato pitched 2.1 innings to face nine batters, before Kate Peters closed out the game for the Trojans.

Samford's McKenzie Newcomb picked up the victory in the circle, allowing one run through seven innings.

Thoughts from Coach Newell

"I think I would go back to the first game of the day, where we won walk-off style against North Alabama, avenging our loss. It was an emotional game. It was game five for us on the weekend as we were the only team to play six games this weekend. I thought we were a little flat this game though. I appreciate the effort and energy; I think they were trying to push through but we couldn't get that door knocked down in this second game. I tip my hat to the Samford pitcher; she and her pitching coach had a good game plan, and we couldn't execute."

Notables

- Haley Pittman earned her first start since February 10, 2023, against North Alabama. She gave up four hits and recorded one strikeout through four innings.

-In her four appearances in the Trojan Invitational, Haley Pittman pitched a combined 9.1 innings and did not allow a run.

- In two of its last three games, the Trojans have gone to extra innings and won via walk-off singles.

-Emma Faulk picked up her first collegiate RBI, which resulted in the one run scored in the game against Samford.

Up Next

Troy returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at home where it will take on Alabama State at 4 p.m.