Troy University Athletics
Thursday, February 26
Auburn, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
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Troy
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Auburn
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Troy Falls Short at Auburn to Start Weekend
2/26/2026 10:08:00 PM | Softball
AUBURN, Ala. – A 6-1 deficit proved too much for the Troy softball team to overcome in an 8-7 loss to the Tigers. The Trojans (12-3) cut into Auburn's (14-4) lead with a four-run third inning but couldn't complete the comeback despite two seventh-inning runs.
Freshman Presley Ivey delivered a two-RBI single in the seventh inning as part of a 2-for-2 game with two walks. Dailynn Motes continued her hot streak with a 1-for-4 game, smacking a two-RBI single to right field in the third inning.
As a team, the Trojans drew eight walks, tying their season high, which was set against IU Indy on Feb. 13.
The Trojans got on the board first to start the game, with a McKinnon Howard walk turning into a run as she scored on a wild pitch. Auburn quickly struck back, with two first-inning homers giving them a 4-1 lead.
The Tigers added two more in the second to go up 6-1. However, Troy punched back in the bottom of the inning. Ivey, McKinnon Howard and Makaley Boswell drew walks to load the bases before Troy scored on a fielding error and an Ella Cunningham single.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Motes roped a two-RBI single to right field to cut the deficit to 6-5. They were her seventh and eighth RBIs in the last five games.
Cunningham entered the circle in relief in the third, striking out two in a strong inning of work. While the Trojans pushed Ivey to third base in the fourth inning after she drew a walk, they couldn't tie the game up.
Auburn added a run in the fourth to make it 7-5, but Troy came right back in the fifth to put pressure on. A hit-by-pitch and a Megan Loftis single put runners at first and second with one out, but a few plays by the Tigers' infield ended the danger.
The Tigers widened the lead to 8-5 with an RBI single in the fifth inning. After an hour-long weather delay, the Trojans stepped back up to the dish. Presley Ivey led off the inning with a booming double to right-center, and Howard followed it up with an infield single.
However, the Trojans were unable to capitalize and went down in order to end the inning. Cunningham punched out two more in the sixth to give the Trojans one more chance to tie it.
Two more walks for Troy in the seventh set the Trojans up again. Motes just missed a home run, clobbering a ball to left field to move both runners up. Ivey continued her spectacular night with a two-out single to score both and make it 8-7. The Tigers were able to seal it with a flyout.
Quotable: Head Coach Eric Newell
"It was a close game and a tough night but I thought we battled really well. We fell down early in the first inning and faced some growing pains against our first Power Four team. All in all, I was really proud of the way we battled and brought one of our best bats to the plate with a chance to take the lead."
Notables
Freshman Presley Ivey delivered a two-RBI single in the seventh inning as part of a 2-for-2 game with two walks. Dailynn Motes continued her hot streak with a 1-for-4 game, smacking a two-RBI single to right field in the third inning.
As a team, the Trojans drew eight walks, tying their season high, which was set against IU Indy on Feb. 13.
The Trojans got on the board first to start the game, with a McKinnon Howard walk turning into a run as she scored on a wild pitch. Auburn quickly struck back, with two first-inning homers giving them a 4-1 lead.
The Tigers added two more in the second to go up 6-1. However, Troy punched back in the bottom of the inning. Ivey, McKinnon Howard and Makaley Boswell drew walks to load the bases before Troy scored on a fielding error and an Ella Cunningham single.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Motes roped a two-RBI single to right field to cut the deficit to 6-5. They were her seventh and eighth RBIs in the last five games.
Cunningham entered the circle in relief in the third, striking out two in a strong inning of work. While the Trojans pushed Ivey to third base in the fourth inning after she drew a walk, they couldn't tie the game up.
Auburn added a run in the fourth to make it 7-5, but Troy came right back in the fifth to put pressure on. A hit-by-pitch and a Megan Loftis single put runners at first and second with one out, but a few plays by the Tigers' infield ended the danger.
The Tigers widened the lead to 8-5 with an RBI single in the fifth inning. After an hour-long weather delay, the Trojans stepped back up to the dish. Presley Ivey led off the inning with a booming double to right-center, and Howard followed it up with an infield single.
However, the Trojans were unable to capitalize and went down in order to end the inning. Cunningham punched out two more in the sixth to give the Trojans one more chance to tie it.
Two more walks for Troy in the seventh set the Trojans up again. Motes just missed a home run, clobbering a ball to left field to move both runners up. Ivey continued her spectacular night with a two-out single to score both and make it 8-7. The Tigers were able to seal it with a flyout.
Quotable: Head Coach Eric Newell
"It was a close game and a tough night but I thought we battled really well. We fell down early in the first inning and faced some growing pains against our first Power Four team. All in all, I was really proud of the way we battled and brought one of our best bats to the plate with a chance to take the lead."
Notables
- Troy is 7-26-1 against Auburn all-time
- Troy falls to 10-1 when scoring first this season
- Dailynn Motes has eight RBIs in her last five games
- Presley Ivey tied her career high with two walks
- Troy drew eight walks as a team, tying its season-high, which was set against IU Indy on Feb. 13
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Abby Herndon (3-1)
L: Lovell, Abby (3-1)
S: SJ Geurin (1)
Batting:
2B: Ivey, Presley 1
RBI: Huffman, Kiley 1 ; Cunningham, Ella 1 ; Motes, Dailynn 2 ; Ivey, Presley 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Howard, McKinnon 2 ; Boswell, Makaley 1 ; Huffman, Kiley 1 ; Tidmore, Mia 1 ; Loftis, Megan 1 ; Ivey, Presley 1
HBP: Rochinski, Kalee 1
Batting:
HR: McKaela Walker 2 ; Ma'Nia Womack 1
RBI: McKaela Walker 4 ; Ma'Nia Womack 2 ; Kyla Stroud 1
SH: Kylie Shaw 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kylie Shaw 1 ; McKaela Walker 2 ; Destiny Rodriguez 1 ; AnnaLea Adams 1 ; Ma'Nia Womack 1 ; Georgia Lessmann 1 ; Alyssa Hastings 1
Game Leaders
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
0
dp/p
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
UTL
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballUTL
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
UTL
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Troy at Georgia (Full Highlights)
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Skylar Meade, Nolan Book, and Brock Tapper Postgame - Georgia
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