Troy Drops Game Two to Set Up Must-Win Rubber Match

Saturday, April 27

Troy, Ala.

4 p.m.

Troy University

32-18, 12-8

South Alabama

28-16-1, 13-7

South Alabama

Troy

Troy Drops Game Two to Set Up Must-Win Rubber Match

4/27/2024 7:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – The Troy softball team lost the second game of the series against South Alabama. The Trojans struggled from the circle in the beginning of the game and the Jaguars evened the series with a 6-3 win.

South Alabama (28-16, 13-7 SBC) made a statement early in the game, recording a three spot in the opening frame after being shut out for seven straight innings last night. Junior infielder Gabby Stagner mashed her twelfth home run of the season with a two-run blast over the center field wall.

The problems didn't stop there. After the Jaguars drew three straight walks, the bases were loaded with two outs and Troy pulled Haley Pittman. Olivia Cato entered the game and senior outfielder Bailey Welch drew the fourth straight walk to plate a run and extend South's lead, 3-0.

Cato ended the half-inning by striking out the next batter and the Trojans rode the momentum by responding with a pair of runs of their own. Taylor McKinney continued right where she left off last night with a two-run shot over the left field wall to bring the game within one run.

However, the Jaguars continued applying the pressure to Troy's pitching staff, loading the bases again for the second straight inning after a series of singles combined with a hit batter. With one out, Cato would strike out the next two batters. However, Sasha Willems reached first base safely after the third strike resulted in a wild pitch and brought a runner home. Cato recorded her fourth strikeout of the game in the next at-bat to strand the bases and escape from further damage.

The damage caught back up to her in the next inning after South Alabama drew back-to-back walks. Troy called in its third pitcher of the game, Savannah Money and both runners advanced into scoring position off a wild pitch. Mackenzie Brasher brought both runs home with a base hit ripped down the left field line and the Jaguars found a comfortable 6-2 lead.

Anslee Finch ended the Trojans' scoring drought with her second home run of the series to bring the game within three runs in the fourth inning. In the bottom half of the fifth, Troy loaded the bases with two outs and McKinney stepped into the box. After finding herself in a full count, sophomore pitcher Tori Miller escaped the jam by popping McKinney out to the center fielder.

In the next few innings, Miller continued to impress and shut down the high-powered Troy offense. The transfer from Coastal Carolina finished the day with seven innings of work where she limited the Trojans to just three runs off five hits. Miller improved to 3-0 on the season and now bolsters a 2.48 ERA on the season.

Savannah Money added another impressive appearance to her resume. The freshman from Ashford, Alabama threw the last five innings for the Trojans where she didn't allow a run and held the Jaguars to five hits.

Thoughts from Coach Newell

"We dug ourselves a hole in that first inning and we just couldn't climb out of it. We battled throughout the game, and we just couldn't overcome those first inning woes. I was happy to see Savannah Money throw up some zeroes. She threw five innings of relief and gave us a chance to come back into this game. I wish that we played better for the crowd. There were a lot of alumni and former players, and it was exciting to see the history of Troy softball. We have got to be prepared and make adjustments quickly for tomorrow. We also have got to be competitive in the circle. It's going to be Libby Baker's last game on this field and we are going to give her the ball and rally around her."

Notables

Today's listed attendance was 1,844. This is the third-biggest crowd in the history of Troy softball.
Anslee Finch and Taylor McKinney have moved up in Troy's history books. Both teammates recorded their 25th career home run, which is the seventh most in Trojan history.