Troy University Athletics
Troy University
34-21
Coastal Carolina
34-21
Troy Blanks Coastal Carolina to Open Sun Belt Conference Tournament
5/9/2024 5:31:00 PM | Softball
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Troy softball blanked Coastal Carolina in five innings, 16-0, powered by Libby Baker's second no-hitter of her career and four home run shots Thursday afternoon at the Bobcat Softball Stadium.
Baker (15-11) hurled the second no-hitter of her career, tossing five innings and struck out four on 75 pitches.
Audra Thompson had a career day from the dish. The senior batted 1.000 percent for the first time in her career, going 4-for-4 and hitting just shy of the cycle. Thompson hit two home runs, a double and a single, picking up four RBIs and four runs, adding to her impressive numbers this season.
The Troy (34-21, 13-11 SBC) offense took off in the first inning with three back-to-back singles off the bats of Jade Sinness, D'Aun Riggs, and Taylor McKinney. McKinney knocked in Sinness to put the Trojans on the board 1-0.
Thompson opened the second inning with a double, followed a few batters later with a Sinness trading place with the second double of the inning, pushing Troy's lead to 2-0.
The Trojans hung a five spot in the third inning to crack the game wide open with three home run blasts. Baker kicked off the home run party with a two-run shot. Anslee Finch and Audra Thompson followed Baker's lead, mashing solo shots and putting Troy up 5-0. The offense continued to work when Sarah Beth Brake singled up the middle and Jade Sinness reached base on a Chanticleer error, scoring pinch runner Taylor Danford.
The Trojan offense continued to pull away on a two-out rally in the fourth frame. Troy sent 10 batters to the plate, recording five runs on two hits and two Chanticleer errors.
Finch picked up her second hit in the fifth inning with a double and Cassidy Boltz singled, putting runners on the corners. Thompson then blasted her second home run of the game with a three-run shot. Troy then loaded the bases on a Natalie Turner double and two walks. A wild pitch sent Turner home, extending Troy's lead 16-0, where it would stay for the remainder of the game.
Coastal Carolina's (34-21) Raelee Brabham was tagged with just her ninth loss this season after she gave five runs on eight runs.
Thoughts from Eric Newell
"16-0 is something you dream about. Your ace pitcher throwing a no-hitter, your star shortstop hitting two home runs. Audra is an absolute beast here in Texas. She played well here during the regular season and was crazy good today. But I'm the happiest for our team out of six seniors who have just carried us this year, so getting in the win column on day two is nice."
Notables
- Troy hit three home runs in one inning for the first time this season.
- Troy collected 17 hits against the Coastal Carolina pitching staff. This is the 17 game the Trojans have hit in the double digits this year.
- The Trojans, for the first time all season, Troy scored in all the innings it played.
- This is the ninth time the Trojans have had 10+ RBIs this season.
- Audra Thompson recorded a new career-high of nine home runs.
- Audra Thompson mashed two home runs in the same game for the first time in her collegiate career.
- The 2024 squad has recorded 64 home runs this season, surpassing the all-time single-season home run record, which was 62 set by the 2016 squad.
- Libby Baker recorded the seventh no-hitter (individual or combined) in Sun Belt Championship history and the first since 2018.
- The 16 runs scored by Troy tied for the second most in a game in Sun Belt Championship history and were the most since Louisiana's record-setting 19 runs in 2004.
- Audra Thompson's four runs scored tied for the most in a game in Sun Belt Championship history – last accomplished in 2007.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Baker, Libby (15-11)
L: Raelee Brabham (24-9)
Batting:
2B: Sinness, Jade 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1 ; Thompson, Audra 1 ; Turner, Natalie 1
HR: Baker, Libby 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1 ; Thompson, Audra 2
RBI: Sinness, Jade 2 ; Riggs, D'Aun 1 ; McKinney, Taylor 1 ; Baker, Libby 2 ; Finch, Anslee 1 ; Thompson, Audra 5 ; Turner, Natalie 2
SH: Turner, Natalie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sinness, Jade 1 ; McKinney, Taylor 2 ; Baker, Libby 1 ; Finch, Anslee 1 ; Williams, Jillian 1 ; Boltz, Cassidy 2 ; Thompson, Audra 4 ; Brake, Sarah Beth 1 ; Danford, Taylor 1 ; Turner, Natalie 2
SB: Turner, Natalie 1
