Troy University Athletics
Wednesday, March 25
Kennesaw, Ga.
4 p.m.
Troy University
21-10
12
at
6
Kennesaw State
6-23
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Troy
0
2
1
3
0
1
5
12
14
2
Kennesaw St.
1
1
0
2
0
2
0
6
8
1
Offensive Explosion Over Kennesaw State Keeps Troy Perfect in Midweek Matchups
3/25/2026 7:43:00 PM | Softball
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Troy softball team exploded with 14 hits and three home runs (two inside-the-park) to remain a perfect 5-0 in midweek games after a 12-6 victory over Kennesaw State on Wednesday night in Bailey Park.
By earning their first-ever road win over the Owls (6-23), the Trojans improve to 21-10 with their fifth straight victory.
Troy saw two inside-the-park home runs via Kiley Huffman and McKinnon Howard, with a solo shot to left field for Kalee Rochinski. The trio combined to go for 9-for-11 with seven RBIs. Huffman and Rochinski were perfect, going 4-for-4 and 3-for-3, respectively. Ella Cunningham also added a multi-hit game with an RBI. The Trojans totaled 14 hits for their 13th game with double-digit hits.
Game Summary
Kennesaw struck in the first inning when Alora Bevily singled to third base before Hannah Harvey drilled a double to center field to put runners on second and third. Four pitches later, Bevily capitalized on an error by Troy to score from third, 1-0, while runners remained on first and second with zero outs.
Makaley Boswell turned the momentum when the Owls rocketed one to her. She forced the out at third and found Lydia Kirby at first, allowing a groundout on the next at-bat to end the inning.
Troy responded in the top of the second after Dailynn Motes earned a hit-by-pitch and Howard singled to third base on a bunt to put runners on first and second. With the count 1-1, Rochinski found the gap up the middle, scoring Motes and Howard with a double for a 2-1 lead.
The Owls managed to tie the game in the bottom half of the second inning with a double by Rylee Limberger and a single through the left side for Ava Brooke Strickland to put runners on the corners with one out. Brooke Strickland stole for second, allowing Limberger to score from third and tie the game at two apiece. Esmee Ames came in for relief and got Troy out of the inning with a flyout and Troy's first strikeout of the game.
Huffman stepped up to the plate to start the third inning and on her first pitch delivered a strike down the right field line, rounding the bases to score the first inside-the-park home run since Taylor McKinney (May 2, 2025, against South Alabama) and take the 3-2 lead.
A fly out, line out, walk and strikeout for Kennesaw State brought Rochinski up in the top of the fourth. On her second pitch, Rochinski homered to left field for her fourth home run of the season and a 4-2 lead. Kirby walked on the next at-bat and found her way to third with two outs. Then, up 2-1 in the count, Boswell extended her reached base safely streak to 30 with a single through the left side, scoring Kirby for a 5-2 lead. After a single by Huffman, she attempted to steal second, which brought Boswell home, 6-2.
Kennesaw State cut the margin to two, 6-4, in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer by Harvey. After a silent fifth inning by both sides, Troy pushed its advantage to three, 7-4, with an HBP for Amity White and an error by Kennesaw to put Kam Munson on first and advance White. Huffman finished it with her fourth hit of the game, singling up the middle and bringing White across home plate.
Again, Kennesaw State trimmed the margin to one, 7-6, in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on the corners, an error by Troy scored one. Then, after a fielder's choice, Howes singled through the left side to score the second.
Troy hit the dagger with its second inside-the-park homer via Howard, 8-6, at the top of the seventh. Then, after three straight singles for Rochinski, Kirby and Megan Loftis, Troy had the bases loaded with no outs. Troy proceeded to score four straight runs on four at-bats, including a walk, a sac fly, a fielder's choice and a single for a 12-6 lead. Abby Lovell punched out three straight in the bottom half to secure the victory.
Head Coach Eric Newell
"The game was a lot closer than the final score showed. They brought it down to a one-run lead in the sixth, so we had to go with our ace to finish it off. Then, we exploded in the seventh and rolled through. Those inside-the-park home runs are so much fun to watch, and I'm happy to see what kind of momentum this offensive boost gives us for this weekend. We know we wanted to see a bunch of pitchers tonight, but I wasn't expecting to have to put in our ace like that. Today was big, though. We remain perfect in these midweek games, which is nice. Southern Miss is going to be a great conference series this weekend and I expect a tight contest."
Notables
• Kiley Huffman became the first Trojan to score an inside-the-park home run since Taylor McKinney (May 2, 2025, against South Alabama), securing it in the top of the third against Kennesaw State. It was her first career homer.
• Lydia Kirby is now 2-for-2 in her starts for reaching base safely with her walk in the top of the fourth.
• With her RBI single in the fourth inning, Makaley Boswell has reached base safely in 30 straight games.
• Kiley Huffman went 3-for-3 for her ninth career multi-hit game and second with three or more.
• Troy improved to 5-0 in midweek matchups with the win over Kennesaw State.
• The Trojans earned their first-ever road win over the Owls, 1-4.
By earning their first-ever road win over the Owls (6-23), the Trojans improve to 21-10 with their fifth straight victory.
Troy saw two inside-the-park home runs via Kiley Huffman and McKinnon Howard, with a solo shot to left field for Kalee Rochinski. The trio combined to go for 9-for-11 with seven RBIs. Huffman and Rochinski were perfect, going 4-for-4 and 3-for-3, respectively. Ella Cunningham also added a multi-hit game with an RBI. The Trojans totaled 14 hits for their 13th game with double-digit hits.
Game Summary
Kennesaw struck in the first inning when Alora Bevily singled to third base before Hannah Harvey drilled a double to center field to put runners on second and third. Four pitches later, Bevily capitalized on an error by Troy to score from third, 1-0, while runners remained on first and second with zero outs.
Makaley Boswell turned the momentum when the Owls rocketed one to her. She forced the out at third and found Lydia Kirby at first, allowing a groundout on the next at-bat to end the inning.
Troy responded in the top of the second after Dailynn Motes earned a hit-by-pitch and Howard singled to third base on a bunt to put runners on first and second. With the count 1-1, Rochinski found the gap up the middle, scoring Motes and Howard with a double for a 2-1 lead.
The Owls managed to tie the game in the bottom half of the second inning with a double by Rylee Limberger and a single through the left side for Ava Brooke Strickland to put runners on the corners with one out. Brooke Strickland stole for second, allowing Limberger to score from third and tie the game at two apiece. Esmee Ames came in for relief and got Troy out of the inning with a flyout and Troy's first strikeout of the game.
Huffman stepped up to the plate to start the third inning and on her first pitch delivered a strike down the right field line, rounding the bases to score the first inside-the-park home run since Taylor McKinney (May 2, 2025, against South Alabama) and take the 3-2 lead.
A fly out, line out, walk and strikeout for Kennesaw State brought Rochinski up in the top of the fourth. On her second pitch, Rochinski homered to left field for her fourth home run of the season and a 4-2 lead. Kirby walked on the next at-bat and found her way to third with two outs. Then, up 2-1 in the count, Boswell extended her reached base safely streak to 30 with a single through the left side, scoring Kirby for a 5-2 lead. After a single by Huffman, she attempted to steal second, which brought Boswell home, 6-2.
Kennesaw State cut the margin to two, 6-4, in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer by Harvey. After a silent fifth inning by both sides, Troy pushed its advantage to three, 7-4, with an HBP for Amity White and an error by Kennesaw to put Kam Munson on first and advance White. Huffman finished it with her fourth hit of the game, singling up the middle and bringing White across home plate.
Again, Kennesaw State trimmed the margin to one, 7-6, in the bottom of the sixth. With runners on the corners, an error by Troy scored one. Then, after a fielder's choice, Howes singled through the left side to score the second.
Troy hit the dagger with its second inside-the-park homer via Howard, 8-6, at the top of the seventh. Then, after three straight singles for Rochinski, Kirby and Megan Loftis, Troy had the bases loaded with no outs. Troy proceeded to score four straight runs on four at-bats, including a walk, a sac fly, a fielder's choice and a single for a 12-6 lead. Abby Lovell punched out three straight in the bottom half to secure the victory.
Head Coach Eric Newell
"The game was a lot closer than the final score showed. They brought it down to a one-run lead in the sixth, so we had to go with our ace to finish it off. Then, we exploded in the seventh and rolled through. Those inside-the-park home runs are so much fun to watch, and I'm happy to see what kind of momentum this offensive boost gives us for this weekend. We know we wanted to see a bunch of pitchers tonight, but I wasn't expecting to have to put in our ace like that. Today was big, though. We remain perfect in these midweek games, which is nice. Southern Miss is going to be a great conference series this weekend and I expect a tight contest."
Notables
• Kiley Huffman became the first Trojan to score an inside-the-park home run since Taylor McKinney (May 2, 2025, against South Alabama), securing it in the top of the third against Kennesaw State. It was her first career homer.
• Lydia Kirby is now 2-for-2 in her starts for reaching base safely with her walk in the top of the fourth.
• With her RBI single in the fourth inning, Makaley Boswell has reached base safely in 30 straight games.
• Kiley Huffman went 3-for-3 for her ninth career multi-hit game and second with three or more.
• Troy improved to 5-0 in midweek matchups with the win over Kennesaw State.
• The Trojans earned their first-ever road win over the Owls, 1-4.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ames, Esmee (3-1)
L: Leah Jannakos (5-7)
Batting:
2B: Rochinski, Kalee 1
HR: Huffman, Kiley 1 ; Howard, McKinnon 1 ; Rochinski, Kalee 1
RBI: Ivey, Presley 1 ; Boswell, Makaley 2 ; Huffman, Kiley 3 ; Cunningham, Ella 1 ; Howard, McKinnon 1 ; Rochinski, Kalee 3
SH: Loftis, Megan 2
SF: Huffman, Kiley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ivey, Presley 1 ; White, Amity 1 ; Boswell, Makaley 1 ; Huffman, Kiley 1 ; Motes, Dailynn 1 ; Howard, McKinnon 2 ; Rochinski, Kalee 1 ; Tidmore, Mia 1 ; Kirby, Lydia 2 ; Loftis, Megan 1
SB: Boswell, Makaley 1 ; Huffman, Kiley 1
HBP: White, Amity 1 ; Motes, Dailynn 1
Batting:
2B: Hannah Harvey 1 ; Rylee Limberger 1
HR: Hannah Harvey 1
RBI: Hannah Harvey 2 ; Macie Howes 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Alora Bevily 2 ; Hannah Harvey 1 ; Rylee Limberger 1 ; Addison Smith 1 ; Ava Guzowski 1
SB: Rylee Limberger 1 ; Ava Brooke Strickland 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
4
RBI
3
AB
3
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
UTL
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OF
/ Softball
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/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballEric Newell Postgame Press Conference - Kennesaw State
Wednesday, March 25
Player Postgame Press Conference (Kiley Huffman, McKinnon Howard) - Kennesaw State
Wednesday, March 25
Troy at Kennesaw State (Full Highlights)
Wednesday, March 25
Gerad Parker - Mic'd Up
Tuesday, March 24