Scott Watkins
Staff Writer
The Troy Trojan softball team got back on track last weekend with a sweep at home over Appalachian State.
Troy had lost five consecutive series heading into the series with the Mountaineers. The win moved the Trojans into eighth place in the Sun Belt, the last qualifying spot for the conference tournament.
In game one on Saturday, Appalachian State was the first team on the board after a double in the second brought in a run. The Mountaineers increased their lead to 3-0 in the fourth after another double drove in a pair of baserunners.
Troy responded with a huge inning in the bottom of the fourth. The Trojans loaded the bases with the first three batters and kept them loaded when a walk scored Troy’s first run of the game.
A single by freshman Logan Calhoun brought in another run before a sacrifice fly by sophomore Kaylee Hussey tied the game.
Troy took the lead when senior Becca Hartley’s double brought in the fourth run of the inning. Freshman Katie Webb brought both runners home with a single into the left center gap.
Webb was plated on the next at-bat by sophomore Stephanie Snyder’s double. Two innings later, Snyder knocked in her second RBI of the game with a single to give Troy an 8-3 lead. The score would stand that way to give Troy the win.
Sophomore pitcher Claire Graves notched her ninth complete game of the season and worked her ERA down to 3.27.
In the nightcap of the doubleheader, senior pitcher Rachel Rigney Brown was one out away from a perfect game.
After a two-out single, Brown settled for the complete game shutout as Troy blanked the Mountaineers 5-0.
Troy put the first run on the board in the third with a solo home run by Hartley who has hit a home run in seven consecutive conference series.
A single by sophomore Madeline Porter and a double by Hussey extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth. The final two runs of the game were plated in the sixth off of four hits, including an RBI single by junior Cassidy McDilda.
In the series finale on Sunday, Troy fought through a rain delay and a late comeback effort from Appalachian State to grab a 7-6 win.
The Mountaineers scored first with a solo shot in the first inning. Following the rain delay, Appalachian State added another in the second to make the score 2-0.
Troy jumped on the Mountaineers in the bottom of the second with four runs on five hits to capture the lead.
In the fourth, Hartley brought in her fifth RBI of the series with a sacrifice fly. Webb added another run in the inning with a fielder’s choice groundout.
Down 6-2, the Mountaineers scored three runs in the fifth inning to pull within one. Webb knocked in one more run in the sixth with another sacrifice hit.
Appalachian State had the bases loaded with just one out when Brown relieved senior pitcher Meg Willis. The Mountaineers could only score one runner as Troy held on for the victory.
Only five games remain for Troy, who is one game ahead of Coastal Carolina, to hold onto the eighth and final spot in the conference tournament.
The Trojans have a pivotal series this weekend at Texas State. The first pitch of game one is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
