The Troy softball team swept Appalachian State during its home series, with two wins on Saturday, March 14, and another on Sunday, March 15.
After losing four straight, the Trojans (16-12, 3-3 Sun Belt) are now back on track with a three-game win streak.
After struggling with scoring runs in the past few games, Troy was able to get back on track offensively as it scored 29 runs in three games against the Mountaineers (8-13, 0-6 Sun Belt).
Day one of the series included a double-header for the Trojans, and they met with success early on.
After swapping runs in the first inning, sophomore Mountaineer shortstop Cara Parker hit a solo home run at the top of the second to go up 2-1.
Junior designated player Hannah Day gave Troy its first lead in the bottom of the second inning with a single that brought two runners home, aided by an infield error by Appalachian State.
Up 3-2 after three innings, Troy struggled to score again, but was able to keep Appalachian State from scoring as it tried to extend its lead.
The Mountaineers tied things up in the sixth inning with an RBI from senior second baseman Cynthia Gomez.
However, the Trojans responded with six runs in the bottom of the same inning, led by redshirt freshman pinch runner Allison Moore, who scored on a wild pitch.
A scoreless seventh inning from the Mountaineers allowed the Trojans to snap a four-game losing streak with a 9-3 victory. The win was first-year head coach Beth Mullins’ first conference win with Troy.
The Trojans didn’t miss a beat as they continued their offensive success from earlier in the day into the second game of their double-header.
Appalachian State went up 1-0 after the first inning with a run scored by Gomez, but again, the Trojans responded in a big way by scoring nine unanswered runs to take the win in five innings.
Sophomore second baseman Becca Hartley extended her on-base streak to 27 games with an RBI double in the third inning to bring in junior right fielder Amanda Winters.
Hartley scored three runs to lead the Trojans, as they took care of business in five innings and finished with a walk-off in the sixth inning.
“I thought we played well,” Mullins said. “We did a good job of putting the ball on the ground and making them make mistakes. Hannah Day did a phenomenal job today. I thought the top of our lineup in general did a great job of getting on and scoring.”
Troy looked to take the series sweep the following day, and was able to control the game from the start on Sunday, March 15. Day continued to lead the Trojans offensively with five RBIs and a home run, going three for four at bat.
Day’s two-run homer in the first inning got the Trojans going early on, and they never looked back.
Junior Mountaineer center fielder Pepper Butler hit an RBI single in the top of the second inning to bring the score to 2-1.
Troy responded with four runs in the bottom of the second inning to go up 6-1. Appalachian State struggled to find an answer to Troy’s hitting.
As a team, the Trojans racked up 10 hits on 23 at bats, versus five hits on 20 at bats for the opposition.
Troy scored three and two runs in the third and fourth innings, respectively, dominating both offensively and defensively by not giving up hits.
Appalachian State added a late run in the top of the fifth, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the large lead the Trojans had built up.
Junior pitcher Sara Mock (3-6) got the win for the Trojans, allowing one run on just four hits. After losing its first three conference games, Troy is still looking to make a conference title run under Mullin’s guidance.
Troy will now travel to Tallahassee, Florida, to play Florida State on Wednesday, March 18. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
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