Troy Softball used the long ball to claim a 2-1 series win over Sun Belt foe ULM. Troy dropped the series opener 4-3 before winning Saturday’s matchup 4-2 and Sunday’s 7-3 to win series over the Warhawks.
Troy hit a total of four home runs in the series, with senior pitcher Libby Baker tallying two of them herself. Freshman second baseman Jillian Williams also recorded her first collegiate home run in game three on Sunday.
“It’s nice to get a series win after dropping game one,” said head coach Eric Newell. “This shows a lot of resiliency and determination from the team.”
Game one of the series did not go in the Trojans favor, ultimately losing 4-3 to ULM. The Warhawks utilized the small ball game in their win using bunts to advance baserunners.
“We scouted ULM for their bunting game and knew the type of game they would play,” Newell said. “My hat is off to the ULM batters for placing the bunts as well as they did.”
The game started with a pitcher’s duel as neither team was able to break the stalemate. In the bottom of the third inning, junior catcher Sarah Beth Brake hit one over the centerfield wall to break the tie and give Troy a 1-0 lead
It did not take long for ULM to strike back. First baseman Jacelyn Buck hit a two-RBI single in the top of the fourth to claim the Warhawks first lead of the game. In the bottom of the fourth, however, Baker tied the game with a solo homer to the left field corner. Troy reclaimed the lead 3-2 after an Anslee Finch RBI double scored Audra Thompson.
Troy found itself down in the bottom of the fifth inning with runners in scoring position. Head coach Eric Newell called for a suicide squeeze for batter D’Aun Riggs to try and score Natalie Turner from third base.
“We felt like we had an opportunity to score there,” Newell said. “If I were to have that opportunity again, maybe I wouldn’t call that, but I felt like we had our best players to score.”
The squeeze ultimately ended up costing Troy the win in the first game, but the Trojans were not out of the series yet.
Game two on Saturday was much like the first, a heavy weight pitcher’s duel with little runs breaking through. The Trojans starter Alyssa Faircloth did not perform well in her outing, allowing two runs early via a long shot by Warhawks right fielder Meagan Brown. However, fellow freshman Savannah Money stepped in and took her place for the rest of the game.
Money stifled the Warhawks bats giving up no runs on three hits through six innings. The freshman pitcher also had three strikeouts in her outing. This performance helped Troy’s offense climb back into the game.
“Savannah pitched her best game at Troy today,” Newell said. “We are excited about the futures of the freshman but specifically how well Money pitched today.”
The Trojans scored four unanswered runs to win day two, 4-2. Baker accounted for two RBIs in the game and hit her second solo homer of the series. The rubber match to decide the series would be on Sunday.
Once again, the Trojans used the long ball to break free from a pitcher’s stalemate to win the third game 7-3 and claim the series. ULM struck first with an RBI single by third baseman Layla Thompson claiming the early 1-0 lead. The Warhawks held this lead until the bottom of the second inning when the freshman Williams stepped up to the plate.
“This home run came at a very important time in the game,” Newell said. “But, most importantly, this was her first collegiate home run and as a team we are super happy for her.”
With one out and two on base, Williams swung at the first ball pitched her direction and crushed it over the left field wall to record her first ever collegiate home run. This home run started a seven unanswered run stretch from the Trojans.
First baseman Kayden Dunn joined in on the fun with a two-RBI double in the third inning to increase the lead to 5-1. Riggs hit a two-RBI double in the fourth to extend the lead even further to 7-1. This 7-1 deficit was too much for the Warhawks to overcome as the Trojans won 7-3.
“I give a lot of credit to our seniors for keeping this team together through this series,” Newell said. “Today was a great Sunday for us over a tough ULM team and I am very proud of this team.”
Troy improves to 29-16 on the year with a 9-6 conference record. The 9-6 record puts the Trojans in third place in the Sun Belt with the conference tournament right around the corner. Troy will continue its season with a trip to Statesboro, Georgia, for a three-game series with Georgia Southern April 19 through 21.
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