Trojans Prepare For The Mississippi State Tournament

Friday, March 1

Starkville, Miss.

12 p.m.

Troy University

Samford

Trojans Prepare For The Mississippi State Tournament

2/29/2024 11:30:00 AM | Softball

Game Notes

By: Athletics Communications

Troy, Ala. – The Troy softball team is preparing to travel to Starkville, Mississippi to play in the Mississippi State Tournament this weekend.

No. 23 Mississippi State plays host to Samford, Southern Miss, Alcorn State and the Troy Trojans. The games will be played from Friday, March 1 through Sunday, March 3 at Nusz Park.

The Trojans open the tournament with two games on Friday. Troy will face a familiar foe in Samford with first pitch scheduled for 10:00 a.m. before matching up with Mississippi State at 3:00 p.m.

The second day will be reversed for Troy. The Trojans begin play against the hosts at 2:00 p.m. before playing Samford for the second time in the nightcap with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Sunday will be an early day for the Trojans. Troy will play Alcorn State at 10:00 a.m.

Cassidy Boltz has been red-hot for Troy. The junior transfer is leading the Trojans with a .433 batting average, a 1.269 OPS, three home runs and is third in RBIs with 14. Boltz is hitting 7-for-10 in her last three games, driving in eight runs in that span.

Troy has a three-headed monster in the circle. Libby Baker, Haley Pittman and Alyssa Faircloth make up the tandem that has been lethal for the Trojans to begin the season.

Faircloth leads the team with 23 strikeouts and a 1.85 ERA over her 22.2 innings of work. Pittman has appeared in nine games for the Trojans this season, starting four of them, and has struck out 20 batters in 25.2 innings to bolster a 1.91 Era. Baker has pitched most out of the trio, hurling 38 innings including several complete games and a no-hitter against Alabama State on February 14. The fifth-year senior has a 2.00 ERA and a 5-1 record so far.

Mississippi State

The No. 23 Bulldogs are currently 11-3 on the season with huge wins over No. 8 Clemson, No. 13 Utah and two back-to-back wins against then No. 23 Louisiana. Mississippi State is looking to bounce back after dropping two of their last three games including a 9-3 loss to No. 1 Oklahoma.
Junior catcher Jessie Blaine leads the Bulldogs' offense. The Pike Road, Alabama native leads the team with three home runs, 14 RBIs and 25 total bases while hitting at a .341 clip.

Aspen Wesley has seen much success from the circle to start this season. The fifth-year senior has a 4-1 record through seven appearances. Wesley has bolstered a 1.71 ERA with 29 strikeouts in her 28.2 innings.

Samford

This will be the third and fourth matchups between the Trojans and the Bulldogs this season. The last time these two programs met was during the Trojan Invitational where the series was split. Samford is currently sitting at 2-15 with their only other win coming from a 16-0 victory against Southern Miss.

Logan Champion leads Samford's offense. The junior catcher from Marietta, Georgia is currently batting .298 with 19 total bases and eight RBIs.

Jordyn Partain has been the leader of the Bulldogs' rotation. The junior pitcher from Macon, Georgia bolsters a team-lowest 3.33 ERA wit 29.2 frames of work and threw a shutout against Southern Miss.

Alcorn State

Alcorn State is currently sitting at 5-10. Senior outfielder Kristian Edwards leads them offensively with a .395 batting average, 15 hits, a .941 OPS and six RBIs.

Ta'Niyah Fletcher leads Alcorn State from the circle, posting a 4.48 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 20.1 innings.