The Troy softball team went 4-1 over the weekend at the Cardinal Clash, with their lone loss coming in heartbreaking fashion against Western Kentucky. Troy was clicking in every aspect of the game with 44 combined runs powered the offense while Alyssa Faircloth and Savannah Money each turned in career-best starts from the circle.
“Our dugout has been key in staying energized,” said head coach Eric Newell. “We’ve done a great job of keeping offensive momentum.
“That momentum is real, and I’m really proud of the offense passing the bat.”
Cassidy Boltz, Annie Orman and Kayden Dunn all had spectacular weekends at the plate.
Boltz started off the weekend with a 3-for-3 game against Southeast Missouri and finished it with 10 total hits. Her .517 batting average and 1.287 OPS lead the team.
Following a slow first weekend, Orman exploded for Troy with nine RBIs. She now leads the team in total RBIs with 11 and doubles with four. Orman broke out of her early-season slump with a three-RBI double against Eastern Illinois.
“It was just a breath of fresh air,” Orman said of her double. “I knew right off the bat that I hit it hard so I just ran really fast.”
Dunn continued her hot start to the season with three multi-hit games over the weekend.
The first baseman is tied with Boltz for five multi-hit games this year, which leads the team.
Dunn has also taken five walks to bring her season on-base percentage up to .515.
The team bounced back after its only loss of the weekend to secure two resounding victories and improve Troy’s record to 7-3.
“I feel like the more games we play, the more we’re coming together as a team,” said senior catcher Sarah Beth Brake. “It’s just good seeing everyone come together, especially going into conference play soon.”
To open the weekend, the Trojans secured a 4-2 victory over Southeast Missouri. Although the Redhawks were an NCAA Regional team in 2024, Faircloth’s eight strikeouts over four innings baffled the SEMO lineup. The total tied her career high, set on Feb. 24, 2024.
The Trojans got out to a 4-0 lead over the Redhawks – Caiden Oliva finished the night with two RBIs – and tried to hold on for the rest of the game. After a slick play from Makaley Boswell stranded a runner on third in the sixth, SEMO fought back in the seventh.
The Redhawks scored two runs in the final inning, but Mya Holt entered the game and left the bases loaded with her first career save.
In Friday’s 11-6 win over Eastern Illinois, Orman and Brake both drove in four runs. Brake’s fifth-inning home run gave Troy the cushion it needed to finish out the win as Esmee Ames earned her first save in a Troy uniform.
Troy’s five-run third inning helped them best the Panthers on Valentine’s Day despite Eastern Illinois scoring plenty of runs off the Trojans pitching staff.
Although the Trojans held a one-run lead heading into the seventh inning against Western Kentucky, the Hilltoppers came up with a clutch two-out, two RBI single to take a late lead in the 6-5 game. Taylor McKinney finished the game with two RBIs, but Troy couldn’t muster up a big hit to win the game.
Saturday saw the Trojans win two big games, run-ruling Eastern Illinois 10-2 and Alabama State 14-0. Savannah Money pitched brilliantly in the game against the Panthers, setting a new career-high in strikeouts and keeping the game close until Troy broke it open with a seven-run fifth inning.
Against the Hornets, Troy dropped 12 runs in the first inning alone -- the inning was the highest-scoring since at least 2004. The Trojans cruised the rest of the way, bringing their all-time record against Alabama State to a perfect 28-0.
Following a midweek contest against ACC opponent Georgia Tech, Troy travels to Tampa, Florida, for a four-game tournament. The Trojans play Michigan, Wisconsin, Kent State and USF starting on Saturday with the Wolverines.
First pitch is set for 10:15 a.m. at the USF Softball Stadium.
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