Trojans Split Opening Day of the Bulldog Invitational

Friday, March 1

Starkville, Miss.

12 p.m.

Troy University

15-4

Samford

2-11

Samford

Troy

Trojans Split Opening Day of the Bulldog Invitational

3/1/2024 10:33:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Athletics Communications

Starkville, Miss. – The Troy softball team split the opening day of the Bulldog Invitational at Nusz Park. The Trojans beat Samford, 5-3, before falling to the No. 24 Mississippi State Bulldogs, 12-2, in the nightcap.

D'Aun Riggs continued her incredible start of her senior campaign. Riggs hammered a triple in both of her first at-bats in today's games. While leading off for Troy, Riggs has bolstered a .397 batting average with 24 hits, a .439 on-base percentage and three triples so far this season.

Libby Baker improved to 6-1 on the season with a complete game victory over the Samford Bulldogs. Baker has bolstered a 2.18 ERA to start her fifth season as a Trojan, punching out four hitters while allowing three runs off four hits in today's appearance.

Game One: Troy 5, Samford 3

The opening matchup was a team effort from the Trojans. Troy led wire-to-wire after getting an early 3-0 lead in the third inning.

Riggs broke the deadlock for the Trojans, tripling to left field before a wild pitch would bring her home. Cassidy Boltz kept the rally going with an RBI single that would plate Jade Sinness. A walk drawn by Audra Thompson followed by back-to-back wild pitches would allow Boltz to come home and give the Trojans their 3-0 lead.

Samford answered with a two spot in the next frame after freshman Katie Campbell belted a two-run homer. The Trojans remained patient in the bottom half of the fourth, drawing four straight walks to tack on another run and extend the lead to 4-2.

The Trojans and the Bulldogs each added a run late in the game with an RBI single by Natalie Turner and a solo home run by Lindsey Nelson. Troy would hold on to their two-run lead and secure the 5-3 win.

Baker pitched a strong opening game to earn her sixth win this season. Baker pitched all seven innings and struck out four batters to improve to a 6-1 record.

Game Two: Mississippi State 12, Troy 2

For the second game in a row, Riggs hammered a triple to the outfield in the first at-bat of the game. Baker brought the senior home with a sacrifice fly to give the Trojans a 1-0 lead in the opening frame.

The rest of the game was in favor of the Bulldogs. Mississippi State scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning which was highlighted by Jessie Blaine's grand slam to knock Haley Pittman out of the circle.

Mississippi State scored four more runs in the next inning to set themselves up with a 12-1 lead. Troy would attempt to rally late in the fourth inning, plating one run on a fielder's choice, 12-2, but Matalasi Faapito shut down any hopes of a comeback.

Notables

Troy reached a seven-game win streak with their 5-3 victory over Samford. The Trojans outscored their opponents 49 to 17 in that span.
The Trojans' two runs were the lowest they've scored since their 2-1 loss against No. 21 Indiana on February 17.
D'Aun Riggs hammered two triples today. Riggs has now hit eight triples in her career and three on the season.
Cassidy Boltz has increased her hitting streak to five games. Her last hitless performance was on February 23. Boltz's batting average has improved to .457 on the year.