Troy University Athletics
Troy University
15-6
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Mississippi State
15-3
Troy Drops Heartbreaker, Falls To Samford On Second Day of Bulldog Invitational
3/2/2024 11:11:00 PM | Softball
Starkville, Miss. – The Troy softball team lost both games on the second day of the Bulldog Invitational at Nusz Park. The Trojans suffered a heartbreaking 5-2 loss to the No. 24 Mississippi State Bulldogs before falling to Samford, 7-1, to end the night.
Alyssa Faircloth added another quality appearance to her collegiate resume with her 3.1 inning appearance against Samford. The freshman punched out two batters and held the Bulldogs to one earned run and one hit.
Libby Baker and Jade Sinness highlighted the Trojans' offense in day two of the Bulldog Invitational. In a day where Troy was only able to record nine total hits, Baker and Sinness each blasted a homer. Baker went 2-for-3 against Mississippi State with a two-run blast and Sinness smacked a solo shot in the Trojans' second plate appearance against Samford.
Game One: Mississippi State 5, Troy 2
In what would become a battle of attrition, both the Bulldogs and Trojans were held to no runs through five and a half innings. This matchup between two powerhouses became a real pitchers' duel with both sides finding a way to get out of every jam.
Baker threw five dominant innings, holding the Bulldogs scoreless and only allowing four hits in that span. In the bottom half of the sixth frame, a hit batter and a passed ball combined with three walks, a double and a home run allowed Mississippi State to plate all five of their runs.
The Trojans attempted to answer back in the top of the seventh with a double by Audra Thompson followed by a two-run bomb by Baker to bring the game back within reach. Aspen Wesley entered the game with no outs and a runner on first before retiring the side to shut down any hopes of a comeback.
Game Two: Samford 7, Troy 1
The Trojans got off to an early lead when Sinness blasted a home run to deep center field in the first inning. Although they couldn't add on to this early advantage, Faircloth kept the Bulldogs scoreless for the first three and a half innings.
A throwing error by Taylor McKinney would allow Addison Smith to come home and tie the game. Samford would take the lead in the next at-bat off a sacrifice fly by Olivia Shaw. The Bulldogs would never look back, loading the bases in the bottom of the sixth, capitalizing off a fielding error by Kayden Dunn that would have ended the ending with a bases-clearing triple by McKayla Cothran.
Jordyn Partain dominated from the circle for the Bulldogs, limited the Trojans to only one run off three hits and recorded five strikeouts over her seven innings.
Troy had an opportunity late in the fifth inning after D'Aun Riggs ripped a single down the right field line and Taylor McKinney would draw a free trip to first base. However, Partain would shut down the Trojans' last threats by forcing Sinness and Baker to fly out to the corner outfielders and leave the runners stranded.
Notables
- Libby Baker threw her seventh complete game of the season against Mississippi State, she has now tied her career high of seven complete games. The last time Baker threw seven complete games was in 2022.
- Libby Baker recorded the second home run of her 2024 campaign in the game against Mississippi State, the 23 of her career.
- Jade Sinness ripped her third home run of the season tonight against Samford and the first solo shot of the 2024 campaign.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Josey Marron (6-0)
L: Baker, Libby (6-2)
S: Aspen Wesley (2)
Batting:
2B: Thompson, Audra 1
HR: Baker, Libby 1
RBI: Baker, Libby 2
SH: Turner, Natalie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Thompson, Audra 1 ; Baker, Libby 1
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Batting:
2B: Madisyn Kennedy 1 ; Kylee Edwards 1
HR: Kylee Edwards 1
RBI: Kylee Edwards 4
SH: Salen Hawkins 1 ; Brylie St. Clair 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jadyn Burney 1 ; Riley Hull 1 ; Kat Wallace 1 ; Ella Wesolowski 1 ; Kylee Edwards 1
HBP: Paige Cook 1
