McKinney, Boltz Power The Trojans Past Southern Miss After Extra-Inning Showdown

Thursday, March 28

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

25-11, 5-2

Southern Miss

14-17, 3-4

Southern Miss

Troy

McKinney, Boltz Power The Trojans Past Southern Miss After Extra-Inning Showdown

3/28/2024 9:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Troy 2 USM 1 Photo Gallery

By: Athletics Communications

McKinney, Boltz Power The Trojans Past Southern Miss After Extra-Inning Showdown

TROY, Ala. – A pair of solo shots by Taylor McKinney and Cassidy Boltz led the Troy softball team to open its series against Southern Miss (14-17, 3-4 SBC) with a 2-1 win. After a seven and a half-inning pitcher's duel, McKinney walked it off in the bottom of the eighth to give the Trojans (24-11, 4-2 SBC) their third straight conference win.

The junior second baseman has provided for the Trojans day-in and day-out. McKinney is now batting at a .355 clip with four home runs, 24 RBIs and six doubles on the season.

Junior transfer Cassidy Boltz also came up huge for Troy. Boltz blasted her seventh home run of the 2024 campaign in the fourth inning of today's matchup. The designated player from Tallahassee, Florida now has a .346 batting average with 26 hits and 26 RBIs in her first season at the Division I level.

This matchup between conference foes quickly became a battle of attrition and the definition of a rubber match. Libby Baker started the game for the Trojans and limited the Golden Eagles to one run off three hits while striking out three batters in her 4.1 innings of work.

Olivia Cato stepped into the circle with one out and one on in the fifth inning and dominated Southern Miss. The sophomore earned her third win of the season after punching out five Golden Eagles and only allowing one hit in 3.2 frames of relief.

Southern Miss had two impressive pitching performances of its own. Junior pitcher Loganne Stepp threw the first 3.1 innings for the Golden Eagles and limited the Trojans to just one run off two hits. Stepp also recorded four strikeouts. Junior pitcher Jana Lee stepped into the circle after Boltz's homer and threw a solid 3.2 innings of relief. However, Lee earned her fifth loss of the season after allowing the walk-off home run by McKinney.

Thoughts from Coach Newell

"Game one in every series is tough, so it is exciting that we were able to come out here on the winning side. Taylor knew exactly what she was looking for and she took advantage of it. Our pitchers did exactly what they needed to do. Olivia Cato hasn't pitched in a while, but her name was called, and she was ready. She held them down and gave our offense a chance to figure some things out. Hat's off to the pitching staff. They did a great job."

Notables

Taylor McKinney blasted her fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning to walk it off for the Trojans. McKinney's homer was the 23rd of her career which ties her with current teammate Anslee Finch for the ninth most home runs in program history. She trails Hayden Gann, who is sitting in eighth place, by just one.
Cassidy Boltz continues to rake in her first season at the Division I level. The JUCO product has blasted seven home runs in the Cardinal Red and has recorded 26 RBIs and bolsters a .346 batting average.
Olivia Cato made her first appearance in almost two weeks. The sophomore last stepped into the circle on March 16 against Coastal Carolina. In her return, Cato earned her third win of the season after striking out five batters in 3.2 shutout innings of relief.
The Trojans are now 5-2 in extra-inning play.