Senior catcher Kaylee Hussey posted several hits in the series against Appalachain State. Hussey drove in one run in game two, connecting on a double to left center. Hussey also posted a hit in the 2-1 loss in game three.
Hanna Cooper
Staff Writer
Troy took its fifth consecutive series for the first time in program history, but fell in the finale, 2-1, to Appalachian State Saturday afternoon at the Troy Softball Complex.
The series started off with a doubleheader on Friday night in which Katie Webb hit a walk-off triple to give Troy the series-clinching game over Appalachian State, 6-5, after Leanna Johnson fanned 16 batters to shutout the Mountaineers in game one of the doubleheader, 5-0.
Leanna Johnson pitched a two-hit shutout to earn the victory over Appalachian State in game one. Johnson’s 16 strikeouts was the 11th most strikeouts thrown in a single-game in the nation this season.
Troy struck first in the bottom of the third inning with a two-run home run by Porter, her third long ball of the season.
Troy added three runs off of a triple down the left field line by Webb and a single to right field by Stephanie Snyder in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Katie Webb smashed a walk-off triple down the right field line which scored Porter and Hernandez to clinch the series win in game two.
The Mountaineers hopped on the board first with four runs in the top of the first inning off of a walk, a hit by pitch and two doubles.
Troy answered with a run in the bottom half of the first when Kaylee Hussey hit a double to left center which scored Webb who reached on a fielder’s choice.
The teams traded runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning to send Troy to the plate in the bottom of the seventh down by two.
Hope Hernandez hit a double to right center which scored Kaylee Chapman who reached on an error to put the game within and set up Katie Webb for the base-clearing walk-off.
When the teams returned to the diamond on Saturday afternoon, the Trojans could not hold onto an early lead and fell in the finale.
Troy hopped on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning with a double to right center by Stephanie Snyder who scored Katie Webb.
Johnson held the Mountaineers hitless through the first five innings of play, but back-to-back bunt singles and a single up the middle scored two and broke up the no-hitter.
Troy was unable to answer in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings.
“I thought, throughout the weekend, our pitching and defense was solid,” head coach Beth Mullins said. “We’ve got to do a better job of coming out in games and having better at bats at beginning.
“We just didn’t do that, and it hurt us in the last game. I’m still proud to take the series, and we have put ourselves in a good spot in conference going into these last two weekends.”
The Trojans hope to bounce back on Wednesday with a midweek matchup against Florida State. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. CST.
