Trojans Fall After Late Inning Comeback

Friday, March 22

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

22-11, 2-2

James Madison

18-10, 2-2

James Madison

Troy

3/22/2024 10:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Athletics Communications

Troy, Ala. – The Troy softball team lost their first home conference game of the season against James Madison at the Troy Softball Complex. The Trojans fell in extra innings to the Dukes, 3-2.

Today's matchup was a real pitcher's duel. Libby Baker would battle with a tandem of JMU (18-10, 2-2 SBC) pitchers to keep the game scoreless through the first five and a half innings.

Troy (22-11, 2-2 SBC) would break the deadlock in the home half of the sixth inning after an RBI infield single by Anslee Finch and another by Kayden Dunn. James Madison answered with a two-spot of their own in the top of the seventh inning after Hallie Hall stepped into the box and smashed a two-run homer over the left field wall.

Alissa Humphrey sent the game into extra innings after entering the game and shutting down the high-powered Trojan offense. KK Mathis put the Dukes in the lead with an RBI single. Troy began rallying in the bottom of the eighth after Audra Thompson and Dunn drew a pair of walks.

Rebekah Johnson stepped up to the plate with the Trojans knocking on the door and advanced Thompson to third after blasting a ball deep to the warning track and barely came short of sending it over the wall. Down to their last out, Jade Sinness stepped into the batter's box and Payton List forced her into a groundout to seal JMU's victory.

Baker ended the game after seven solid innings of work. The senior limited the Dukes to two runs off of five hits and kept opposing batters to a .200 batting average. Alyssa Faircloth entered the game to start the eighth inning. Although the freshman gave up the winning run, she struck out two batters and limited the damage by stranding two James Madison runners.

Thoughts from Coach Newell

"We are disappointed. We had a two-run inning going into the seventh inning and didn't hang on to it. Hats off to them, they got the job done in a high-pressure situation. Throughout the game, Libby Baker pitched well. I feel like there was just one pitch in the seventh that we all wish we could take back, but she was successful through the first six innings. We are a resilient team, and we are looking ahead to take the next two games and win the series."

Notables

Cassidy Boltz is beginning to develop a hitting streak. Her 1-for-4 performance marked three straight games that Boltz has recorded a knock. The junior transfer is batting at a .352 clip with six homers and 24 RBIs on the season.
Alyssa Faircloth is building a streak of her own. She has recorded at least one strikeout in 10 of her last 11 appearances. The true freshman is 6-3 on the season with 41 strikeouts in 40 innings this season.