Troy University Athletics
Troy University
21-9, 1-1
Coastal Carolina
18-9, 1-1
Troy Rallies Back From 6-Run Deficit to Earn First Conference Win of the Year
3/17/2024 9:57:00 AM | Softball
The top of the sixth inning was pivotal for the Trojans' comeback win. The Trojans entered the inning down by six runs when Libby Baker ripped a double into the right center field gap to score D'Aun Riggs and chip away at the lead. Taylor McKinney stepped into the batter's box and kept the action going with an RBI triple before coming around to score off a wild pitch.
Anslee Finch delivered for Troy yet again, smashing her third homer of the season to clear the bases and tie the game at 11 apiece.
Baker shut down the Chanticleers in the bottom of the frame after entering the game with a runner on first and no outs. The senior ace forced a pair of weak pop-ups and a flyout to keep the momentum rolling into the seventh inning.
The Trojans added on two more runs in the top of the frame after back-to-back doubles from Jade Sinness and Baker and a wild pitch that would bring pinch runner Jillian Williams across the plate.
Coastal Carolina refused to go out without a fight. Senior second baseman mashed a solo homerun to lead off the inning and cut Troy's lead down to one. However, Baker forced two lineouts and a groundout to seal the comeback win.
Thoughts from Coach Newell
"That was a whirlwind, a three-hour and 15-minute game. A lot of ups and downs, I'm happy we were on the winning side, I would've hated to be on the losing side, for sure. I'm proud in a lot of ways of our team. I'm incredibly proud but also there's a lot to improve on."
Notables
- Libby Baker delivered on both sides of the ball today. The two-way athlete went three-for-five with two RBIs and two doubles from the batters' box and threw two innings of relief where she allowed just one run off two hits to shut down the Chanticleers and secure the comeback victory.
- Anslee Finch continues her hot streak. The senior outfielder went two-for-three from the plate for the second day in a row and mashed her third home run within the last two games. Finch is now in sole possession for the ninth most home runs in school history with 23 in her career. She moves within one of Hayden Gann who sits in eighth place with 24.
- Audra Thompson tied her season and career high of four RBIs in a single game. The last time she drove in four runs was on February 15 against Florida A&M.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Baker, Libby (9-4)
L: Nicolette Picone (3-5)
Batting:
2B: Sinness, Jade 1 ; Baker, Libby 2 ; McKinney, Taylor 1
3B: McKinney, Taylor 1
HR: Thompson, Audra 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1
RBI: Baker, Libby 2 ; McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Thompson, Audra 4 ; Finch, Anslee 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Sinness, Jade 2 ; Riggs, D'Aun 1 ; Baker, Libby 1 ; Williams, Jillian 1 ; McKinney, Taylor 3 ; Thompson, Audra 2 ; Dunn, Kayden 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1 ; Boswell, Makaley 1
SB: Thompson, Audra 1 ; Dunn, Kayden 1 ; Boswell, Makaley 1
CS: Tidmore, Mia 1
HBP: McKinney, Taylor 1
Batting:
2B: Indya Smith 1
HR: Riley Zana 1 ; Maddy Jennings 1 ; Georgia Hood 1
RBI: Libby Pippin 1 ; Delaney Keith 1 ; Riley Zana 1 ; Iyanla De Jesus 1 ; Maddy Jennings 3 ; Brie Normandin 1 ; Georgia Hood 3
SF: Georgia Hood 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Libby Pippin 1 ; Riley Zana 1 ; Payton Ebersole 1 ; Iyanla De Jesus 1 ; Indya Smith 3 ; Maddy Jennings 2 ; Brie Normandin 1 ; Georgia Hood 2
HBP: Libby Pippin 1 ; Indya Smith 1 ; Maddy Jennings 1
