Megan Phillips
Staff Writer
Trojan softball hit the road once again as they traveled to Monroe, La. to face Louisiana-Monroe University in conference play last weekend.
Saturday, April 5, saw a double header for the teams as they met on the field at 2 p.m. to face one another toe to toe for nine long innings.
This game was clearly a battle of the pitchers as the Trojan’s junior Jaycee Affeldt held the Warhawks to only three hits in over eight innings of play.
Unfortunately, the Warhawks’ redshirt senior pitcher Samantha Hamby showed herself to be an even match as well, holding the Trojans to only two hits.
Troy saw its chance to get on the board in the top of the fifth inning when Affeldt knocked out a base hit and was replaced by freshman pinch runner Bria Epps who stole second, but was then tagged out after junior catcher Allison Milam hit a single into center field.
Both teams saw only 27 at-bats as the only difference between the two teams would present itself on the scoreboard in the only point earned in the bottom of the ninth that would propel ULM to a victory over the Trojans.
In game two, both teams saw some real action as the game went from home plate to the rest of the field as the teams showed that they are scoring players as well as pitchers and catchers.
This game, too, would go into extra innings, taking the Trojans and the Warhawks into eight innings of play.
Troy saw an early lead with Milam and senior outfielder Ebony Wright hitting singles one right after the other, and helping the Trojans to their two run lead in the first inning.
However, ULM did not allow Troy to run away with the lead, scoring once in the bottom of the second and the third, bringing the score to an even 2-2 score.
In the top of the eighth, Troy scored again thanks to a single by sophomore outfielder Amanda Winters who would advance to second off a bunt by senior third baseman Taylor Smartt.
She would advance to third base, thanks to another bunt by senior first baseman Kacie McAllister, and then finally coming home off a pinch hit by junior Michelle Phelps.
This lead did not last, though, as ULM scored twice in the bottom of the eighth, bringing them to a 4-3 victory over Troy.
The third game between the two teams, scheduled for Sunday, April 6, at 1 p.m. was cancelled.
Sporting a current overall record of 16-24-2, the Troy softball team now holds a conference record of 1-8-0.
Upcoming, the Trojans will be traveling to Birmingham, Ala. where they will face their conference rivals, the UAB Blazers on April 10 at 5 p.m.
