Troy University Athletics
Troy Drops Heartbreaker to Western Kentucky
2/15/2025 8:20:00 PM | Softball
Troy, Ala. – After holding a one-run lead heading into the seventh inning, Troy dropped a 6-5 contest to Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers (5-4) used a two-out, two-RBI single to take a late lead over the Trojans (5-3).
On the offensive side, Natalie Turner did a little bit of everything. She went 1-for-3 with an RBI, two runs and a stolen base. As a team, Troy is 18-for-18 on steal attempts this year.
Taylor McKinney and Cassidy Boltz each had two-hit games. McKinney's two RBIs led the Trojans.
Alyssa Faircloth surrendered three earned runs in five innings of resilient pitching. She battled throughout the whole outing, striking out six batters to bring her total for the year to 23.
After the Hilltoppers loaded the bases in the first inning, Faircloth bounced back with two consecutive strikeouts to strand all three runners.
Western Kentucky pushed across two runs in the top of the second inning, but Boltz led off the bottom of the frame with a ground-rule double. The Trojans loaded the bases after a walk and a fielder's choice.
Turner got the Trojans on the board with a hard-hit ball to third base, and then McKinney stepped up to the plate. With an 0-1 count, McKinney unloaded on a pitch and sent it over the center fielder's head to score two runs.
Caiden Oliva followed it up with a shot of her own, blasting another ball to center field to score one more for the Trojans. The explosive second inning gave Troy a 4-2 lead.
Following a silent third inning, the Hilltoppers evened up the game with a two-run fourth inning.
However, the Trojans took the lead right back. Turner drew a walk, stole second base and scored – Kayden Dunn hit a ball on the screws to third base.
Esmee Ames entered the game in the sixth inning trying to preserve Troy's 5-4 lead. Although Western Kentucky hit a double, McKinnon Howard picked Ames up with an acrobatic diving catch.
Western Kentucky battled in the seventh, putting runners on second and third base with just one out. Turner stunned the Hilltoppers with an amazing catch to record the second out, but a single from the next batter gave Western Kentucky a late 6-5 lead.
Makaley Boswell led off the bottom of the frame with a single up the middle, but a line-drive double play ended the game.
Quotable: Head Coach Eric Newell
"It was a tough night here; it was a game we took to the seventh inning with a lead and let them get two runs. A lot of kudos to Western Kentucky, they really battled. They got the big hit and executed one more time than we did. I've been a part of a lot of those games – it's just about executing in the key moments and they did it one more time than we did."
Notables
On the offensive side, Natalie Turner did a little bit of everything. She went 1-for-3 with an RBI, two runs and a stolen base. As a team, Troy is 18-for-18 on steal attempts this year.
Taylor McKinney and Cassidy Boltz each had two-hit games. McKinney's two RBIs led the Trojans.
Alyssa Faircloth surrendered three earned runs in five innings of resilient pitching. She battled throughout the whole outing, striking out six batters to bring her total for the year to 23.
After the Hilltoppers loaded the bases in the first inning, Faircloth bounced back with two consecutive strikeouts to strand all three runners.
Western Kentucky pushed across two runs in the top of the second inning, but Boltz led off the bottom of the frame with a ground-rule double. The Trojans loaded the bases after a walk and a fielder's choice.
Turner got the Trojans on the board with a hard-hit ball to third base, and then McKinney stepped up to the plate. With an 0-1 count, McKinney unloaded on a pitch and sent it over the center fielder's head to score two runs.
Caiden Oliva followed it up with a shot of her own, blasting another ball to center field to score one more for the Trojans. The explosive second inning gave Troy a 4-2 lead.
Following a silent third inning, the Hilltoppers evened up the game with a two-run fourth inning.
However, the Trojans took the lead right back. Turner drew a walk, stole second base and scored – Kayden Dunn hit a ball on the screws to third base.
Esmee Ames entered the game in the sixth inning trying to preserve Troy's 5-4 lead. Although Western Kentucky hit a double, McKinnon Howard picked Ames up with an acrobatic diving catch.
Western Kentucky battled in the seventh, putting runners on second and third base with just one out. Turner stunned the Hilltoppers with an amazing catch to record the second out, but a single from the next batter gave Western Kentucky a late 6-5 lead.
Makaley Boswell led off the bottom of the frame with a single up the middle, but a line-drive double play ended the game.
Quotable: Head Coach Eric Newell
"It was a tough night here; it was a game we took to the seventh inning with a lead and let them get two runs. A lot of kudos to Western Kentucky, they really battled. They got the big hit and executed one more time than we did. I've been a part of a lot of those games – it's just about executing in the key moments and they did it one more time than we did."
Notables
- Troy's 8 homers and 18 steals are the most through the first eight games of a season under Eric Newell
- The Trojans have stolen 18 consecutive bases without being caught in 2025
- Cassidy Boltz hit her team-leading third double of the season tonight
- Alyssa Faircloth is up to 23 strikeouts in 19.1 innings this year
- Cassidy Boltz and Taylor McKinney have four and three multi-hit games this season, respectively
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
C / UTL
/ Softball
INF
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