Trojans Fall in Pitcher’s Duel to Open Series

Friday, March 28

Monroe, La.

4 p.m.

Troy University

21-14, 0

ULM

24-13, 0

TROY

ULM

Trojans Fall in Pitcher’s Duel to Open Series

3/28/2025 7:08:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

MONROE, La. – The Troy softball team opened its series against ULM with a 2-1 loss. The Trojans (21-14, 3-4 SBC) held the Warhawks (24-13, 5-2 SBC) scoreless for five innings, but a two-run home run propelled ULM in the win.

Alyssa Faircloth pitched six innings, striking out four and surrendering just two earned runs. Three of her five hits given up were in the sixth inning.

Caiden Oliva collected Troy's only RBI, going 1-for-3 with a rocket out to left field in the seventh inning. Reaghan Oney went 2-for-3, logging her sixth multi-hit game this season.

Faircloth was lights-out for the first two innings, striking out three batters and allowing no hits. On the other side, ULM pitcher Maddie Nichols shut the Trojans down to start the game, retiring the first seven Trojan batters she saw.

In the third inning, Natalie Turner drew a walk to get Troy's first baserunner off the Preseason All-Sun Belt pitcher. However, the Trojans couldn't get on the board.

The Warhawks got their first hit of the game in the bottom of the third, bunting safely to start the frame. ULM tried to bunt again, but the Trojans got the out of first. Troy got another out on the play, as Oliva threw a strike to third base to tag out the baserunner trying to take another bag.

Taylor McKinney extended her hit streak to 13 games in the fourth inning, looping a single to right field. Faircloth sat down the Warhawks one-two-three in the bottom of the inning, striking out her fourth batter in the process.

Although Oney led off the fifth inning with a single up the middle, the Trojans couldn't manufacture the run.

Turner made a spectacular diving stop in the bottom of the inning, robbing ULM of a hit. The play ended up saving a run, as the Warhawks hit a double just one batter later.

ULM hit a go-ahead home run to center field in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking a 2-0 lead.

Oliva got one of the runs back quickly with a line drive homer to left field. Oney smacked a single up the middle right after, putting further pressure on ULM. Cassidy Boltz drew a walk, putting two on with two outs. However, the Warhawks closed the game out to seal the win.

Quotable: Head Coach Eric Newell
"It was a hard-luck loss here. They got one more big hit than we did, and the two-run home run outdid the solo shot. I can't let this loss affect the rest of the weekend, and that was the talk after the game. It was one of those pitcher's duels where one mistake was going to win or lose the game. It was a well-played ballgame that just didn't go our way."

Notables

Taylor McKinney extended her hit streak to 13 games – she's been on base in 18 straight contests
Caiden Oliva hit her sixth home run of the season
Reaghan Oney had her sixth two-hit game of the season
The Trojans fall to 0-3 in one-run games this season
Troy lost its first game where an opponent scores 0-2 runs