Troy University Athletics
Troy Splits On Second Day Of Trojan Classic
2/16/2024 8:06:00 PM | Softball
Troy, Ala. – The Troy softball team split day two of the Trojan Classic at the Troy Softball Complex. The Trojans defeated Gardner-Webb, 9-1, in their first game of the day before falling to Indiana, 8-1, in the nightcap.
Libby Baker did it all for the Trojans. From the circle, Baker pitched all five innings against Gardner-Webb (4-2), punching out two batters and holding the Runnin' Bulldogs to one run. The two-way star went 3-3 from the plate in game one and drove in four runs for the Trojans.
Jade Sinness shined brightly for the Trojans throughout both games. The senior set a program record for the most runs scored in Troy history. Sinness hit 3-for-7 between both games, scoring three runs and driving in another.
Game One: Troy 9, Gardner-Webb 1
A tale told many times this season, the Trojans saw themselves down early in the first inning after Adrienne Visintine knocked a 2-out homer over the center field wall.
Troy capitalized off Gardner-Webb's mistakes, reaching on back-to-back errors before Baker ripped a single passed the third baseman to bring the runners home. Cassidy Boltz plated the third run of the frame with a base knock up the middle.
The Trojans answered their own 3-spot with another three runs in the bottom of the second frame. Natalie Turner bunted for an infield single before stealing second to get into scoring position. Jade Sinness brought Turner home after mashing a double off the right-field fence. Taylor McKinney created a diversion, distracting the Runnin' Bulldogs by stealing second which allowed Sinness to steal home.
The action continued in the middle innings when Baker drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth with a single lined down the middle that extended the Trojans' lead to 8-1. Audra Thompson ended the game early in the fifth inning with an RBI walk-off single.
Game Two: Indiana 8, Troy 1
The Trojans struggled in their matchup with Indiana (6-1). The Hoosiers led wire-to-wire after capitalizing on a fielding error in the opening frame. The score remained 1-0 until the top of the third inning when Indiana strung together a series of base hits and walks to plate six more runs.
McKinney opened up the bottom of the fourth with a double to the wall, but the Trojans couldn't string anything together, with Brianna Copeland retiring the next three batters in the order.
Thompson attempted to bring the Trojans' back, plating McKinney with an RBI single but Heather Johnson shut down Troy's efforts, securing the Hoosiers' 8-1 win.
Thoughts from Coach Newell
"It's not going to show on the scoreboard, but I think are pitchers competed well. We had a ball bounce off our diving third baseman's glove, D'Aun had one in her glove that bounced out late, Anslee almost snagged one down the left-field line. It was just almost, almost, almost. I think that Haley Pittman competed really well and Cato came in and she competed well too. Those are two pitchers that we are going to need down the stretch this year in the Sun Belt, so I was encouraged by the way they competed."
Notables
· Jade Sinness has broken the record for most runs scored in Troy history, with 161 and counting.
· Libby Baker has improved to 4-0 on the season. Her ERA has lowered to 2.25 after her 5-inning, 1-run performance against GWU.
· Troy's 9-1 victory over Gardner-Webb marks three straight run-rule wins.
· Troy's 11 hits against GWU marks their third game of the season recording double digit hits.
