The Trojans traveled to Deland, Florida, over the weekend for the Stetson Invitational, and won three out of four softball games.
On Friday, Feb. 27, Troy played Alabama State again, after giving the Hornets a sound thrashing in a doubleheader on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Troy won the game 11-3. The starting pitchers were junior Sara Mock for Troy and junior Melissa Christmann for the Hornets.
Troy scored a run in the second inning off freshman center fielder Carli Kayler, who singled to score junior right fielder Amanda Winters.
In the third inning, Troy scored four runs that started when Kayler was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing junior shortstop Kate Benton to score.
The Hornets scored one run in the third on a single from junior first baseman Carly Evans to score sophomore center fielder Valerie Centeno.
Senior first baseman Michelle Phelps retaliated in the fourth with a home run that scored Benton as well. Alabama State answered with sophomore right fielder Brittney Wilson hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.
Junior designated player Hannah Day singled in the fifth to score another run, and then the Hornets were able to score a player from a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth.
After the walk, Troy managed to hold Alabama State at bay, and scored three more runs in the sixth. Junior third baseman Khadija Neely went 3-4 with four RBIs.
Troy won 9-1, and almost shut out Colgate in the second game on Friday. The starting pitchers were junior Ashley Rainey for Troy and junior Brigit Ieuter for Colgate.
Colgate had only one run, and it was scored in the first inning on a fly out to center field. Troy came back in the bottom of the first inning when Benton scored on a wild pitch, and then Winters flied out to score Day.
In the third, the Trojans had some dejà vu when Benton scored again on a wild pitch, and Winters flew out to score Day again. Also in the third, Neely doubled to score sophomore second baseman Becca Hartley.
In the fifth, Hartley hit a three-run homer and Neely hit a solo homer. Neely went 3-3 with two RBIs.
Troy played Colgate again Saturday, Feb. 28, and this game proved to be tougher for the Trojans, with Troy winning 4-3. The starting pitchers were Mock for Troy and freshman Kira Griswold for Colgate.
Colgate stuck first with three runs in the fourth inning. Junior designated player Alessandra Moore singled to score junior catcher Mariel Schlaefer. Sophomore right fielder Tara Grennan homered to score Moore as well.
Troy scored in the fourth thanks to Benton’s single, which scored redshirt freshman pinch runner Allison Moore.
Troy scored three more in the seventh when Benton reached on a throwing error that helped senior left fielder Chelsea Eytel and Neely score. Winters singled to score Benton.
The second Saturday game, which was supposed to be against Stetson, was canceled due to weather.
On Sunday, March 1, Troy played Stetson in the championship game and lost 9-3. The starting pitchers were senior Jaycee Affeldt for Troy and senior Courtney Brandt.
Troy scored the first two runs, thanks to Winters’ homer in the second inning and an Affeldt homer in the fourth.
Stetson countered with eight runs in the fifth. It started with junior catcher Jessica Griffin’s single that scored two runs, and then the Hatters scored six more runs off four doubles.
Troy tried to come back, but could muster only one more run when Hartley homered in the sixth inning. Stetson added one more run in the sixth when Griffin homered. Griffin went 2-4 with three RBIs.
The Trojans played Georgia Tech and won 4-3 on Tuesday, March 3. Troy’s next game is on March 7, against Georgia State in Atlanta.
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