Troy University Athletics
Troy Softball Enters Sun Belt Tournament as No. 9 Seed; Opens Against Host No. 8 Louisiana
5/2/2026 6:04:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – The Troy softball team returns to Yvette Girouard Field as the No. 9 seed for the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, starting with the first round on Wednesday, May 6, at 7 p.m., against No. 8 Louisiana.
Troy looks to avenge the first-round exit to the eventual runner-up in the SBC Tournament last season, while searching for its first SBC title. Under head coach Eric Newell, the Trojans are 1-3 overall with a 1-2 record in the first round. It'll be the second time Troy's faced Louisiana in the postseason with Newell as head coach, falling to the Ragin' Cajuns, 4-2, in the second round in 2024.
The Trojans clinched their way into the tournament with a game one victory over Coastal Carolina, 4-2. Troy is fresh off its fourth straight 30-plus win season under Newell that included sweeps over Georgia State and Georgia Southern. In 2026, the Trojans went 1-2 against Louisiana, winning game one before falling in games two and three.
They are led by the pair of Ella Cunningham and Abby Lovell on the mound, who both rank in the top 10 in the SBC for hits allowed per seven innings (second – 5.56 / third – 5.73) and strikeouts per seven innings (fifth – 6.6 / ninth – 6.3). At the plate, Makaley Boswell leads the conference with 17 doubles, followed by Kiley Huffman in second with 16. Overall, the Trojans lead the Sun Belt in batting average (.319), doubles (86), hits allowed per seven innings (6.48) and stolen bases (101).
Troy looks to avenge the first-round exit to the eventual runner-up in the SBC Tournament last season, while searching for its first SBC title. Under head coach Eric Newell, the Trojans are 1-3 overall with a 1-2 record in the first round. It'll be the second time Troy's faced Louisiana in the postseason with Newell as head coach, falling to the Ragin' Cajuns, 4-2, in the second round in 2024.
The Trojans clinched their way into the tournament with a game one victory over Coastal Carolina, 4-2. Troy is fresh off its fourth straight 30-plus win season under Newell that included sweeps over Georgia State and Georgia Southern. In 2026, the Trojans went 1-2 against Louisiana, winning game one before falling in games two and three.
They are led by the pair of Ella Cunningham and Abby Lovell on the mound, who both rank in the top 10 in the SBC for hits allowed per seven innings (second – 5.56 / third – 5.73) and strikeouts per seven innings (fifth – 6.6 / ninth – 6.3). At the plate, Makaley Boswell leads the conference with 17 doubles, followed by Kiley Huffman in second with 16. Overall, the Trojans lead the Sun Belt in batting average (.319), doubles (86), hits allowed per seven innings (6.48) and stolen bases (101).
Players Mentioned
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/ SoftballEric Newell Postgame Press Conference (Coastal Carolina Games Two and Three)
Friday, May 01
Troy at Coastal Carolina Game One Highlights
Thursday, April 30
Eric Newell Postgame Press Conference (Coastal Carolina Game One)
Thursday, April 30
Player Postgame Press Conference (Ella Cunningham, Presley Ivey) - Coastal Carolina
Thursday, April 30