Troy University Athletics
Friday, March 21
Hattiesburg, Miss.
6 p.m.
Troy University
at
Southern Miss
Troy Hits the Road for Series at Southern Miss
3/20/2025 10:26:00 AM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – After taking a series win against Coastal Carolina last weekend, Troy softball continues Sun Belt Conference play with a road series in Hattiesburg, Miss. The Trojans (20-10, 2-1 SBC) travel to play Southern Miss in their first conference road test of the season.
The Golden Eagles (14-15, 1-2 SBC) dropped a series to Georgia Southern to start conference action, struggling to score runs in the series. Troy is 7-3 in its last 10 matchups with Southern Miss and came away with a sweep in the most recent road series.
Game Information
Date: Mar. 21 | Mar. 22 | Mar. 23
Time: 6 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 12 p.m.
Who: Troy (20-10, 2-1 SBC) at Southern Miss (14-15, 1-2 SBC)
Location: Southern Miss Softball Complex -- Hattiesburg, Miss.
Watch: ESPN+
Kicking off Conference Play
The Trojans started out conference play with a series win over Coastal Carolina, which had just upset No. 9 South Carolina. Troy's pitching was crucial in slowing down one of the top offenses in the country – the Trojans allowed eight runs in three games.
Alyssa Faircloth impressed in two starts, holding the Chanticleers to five hits and two runs in 16 innings pitched. Although the Trojans ultimately lost a 3-1, 10 inning contest to start the series, Faircloth's nine innings kept the Trojans in a tightly contested game.
Troy evened the series with a 12-4 win, drawing 11 walks and scoring seven first inning runs. Mya Holt and Esmee Ames combined to slow the Chanticleers from the circle. At the dish, Rebekah Johnson hit a clutch pinch-hit, two-RBI single.
In her second start of the weekend, Faircloth locked Coastal Carolina down, taking a shutout into the seventh inning of a 5-1 win. Caiden Oliva's RBI triple proved to be one of the body blows in the series-clinching win, and Kayden Dunn went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
A Look at the Golden Eagles
While Southern Miss has a sub .500 record, the Golden Eagles have shown flashes of brilliance. Southern Miss has a win over Power Four Ole Miss under its belt and scored 28 runs in five innings against UMES. The 28-run mark at the time was the most runs in a college softball game in 2025.
Maddie Weeks is tied for the team lead in doubles with five and has hit to the tune of a .878 OPS. Also providing offensive value is Hannah Christian, who has 10 stolen bases and a .787 OPS.
The Golden Eagles have struggled from the circle, with no qualified pitcher holding an ERA under four. Kayla Giardina leads the team with a 1.23 WHIP, striking out 55 batters in 53.2 innings.
Notables
The Golden Eagles (14-15, 1-2 SBC) dropped a series to Georgia Southern to start conference action, struggling to score runs in the series. Troy is 7-3 in its last 10 matchups with Southern Miss and came away with a sweep in the most recent road series.
Game Information
Date: Mar. 21 | Mar. 22 | Mar. 23
Time: 6 p.m. | 2 p.m. | 12 p.m.
Who: Troy (20-10, 2-1 SBC) at Southern Miss (14-15, 1-2 SBC)
Location: Southern Miss Softball Complex -- Hattiesburg, Miss.
Watch: ESPN+
Kicking off Conference Play
The Trojans started out conference play with a series win over Coastal Carolina, which had just upset No. 9 South Carolina. Troy's pitching was crucial in slowing down one of the top offenses in the country – the Trojans allowed eight runs in three games.
Alyssa Faircloth impressed in two starts, holding the Chanticleers to five hits and two runs in 16 innings pitched. Although the Trojans ultimately lost a 3-1, 10 inning contest to start the series, Faircloth's nine innings kept the Trojans in a tightly contested game.
Troy evened the series with a 12-4 win, drawing 11 walks and scoring seven first inning runs. Mya Holt and Esmee Ames combined to slow the Chanticleers from the circle. At the dish, Rebekah Johnson hit a clutch pinch-hit, two-RBI single.
In her second start of the weekend, Faircloth locked Coastal Carolina down, taking a shutout into the seventh inning of a 5-1 win. Caiden Oliva's RBI triple proved to be one of the body blows in the series-clinching win, and Kayden Dunn went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
A Look at the Golden Eagles
While Southern Miss has a sub .500 record, the Golden Eagles have shown flashes of brilliance. Southern Miss has a win over Power Four Ole Miss under its belt and scored 28 runs in five innings against UMES. The 28-run mark at the time was the most runs in a college softball game in 2025.
Maddie Weeks is tied for the team lead in doubles with five and has hit to the tune of a .878 OPS. Also providing offensive value is Hannah Christian, who has 10 stolen bases and a .787 OPS.
The Golden Eagles have struggled from the circle, with no qualified pitcher holding an ERA under four. Kayla Giardina leads the team with a 1.23 WHIP, striking out 55 batters in 53.2 innings.
Notables
- Troy is now ranked No. 17 in D1 Softball's Mid Major Top 25, jumping into the rankings after beating Coastal Carolina
- The Trojans are now ranked No. 59 in the NCAA RPI, jumping nearly 10 spots after starting last weekend at No. 68
- The Trojans are 19-6 all-time against Southern Miss, and have won seven out of the last 10 games
- Troy is 5-1 against the Golden Eagles under head coach Eric Newell
- Alyssa Faircloth now has 95 strikeouts, first in the Sun Belt Conference and 20th in the nation
Players Mentioned
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/ Softball
INF
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/ Softball
UTL
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C / UTL
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