MONROE, La. - The Troy softball team hit a
pair of home runs to claim a 5-0 Sun Belt Conference victory over ULM on Sunday
afternoon. The Warhawks struggled at the plate, as they managed just six
baserunners during the contest.
Troy's Ashlyn Williams fanned 10 Warhawk batters
during the game and held ULM to five 1-2-3 innings to begin the game. At the
plate, the Trojans hit two home runs in the fourth inning and scored three more
runs between the fifth and sixth innings.
Kala Moore, Hayden Gann, and Sarah Shields
each tallied two hits to lead Troy (19-15, 7-3) at the plate. Gann led all players
in the game with two RBIs, while Gann and Nikki Hollett each hit a home run.
The Trojans left nine runners on base, but overcame it with timely hitting.
ULM (12-13, 2-4) was led by five players who
each tallied a base hit, while Melissa Rivera drew the Warhawks only walk.
Kandace Causey (3-4) took the loss after
giving up two earned runs on three hits. She finished with three strikeouts and
two walks. Tiffany Mills entered in relief during the fourth inning and struck
out three during 3.2 innings of work.
Williams (15-11) walked one and gave up just five
hits in the complete game shutout.
Troy blasted a pair of home runs in the
fourth inning to force ULM into a pitching change. Gann drove a 1-0 pitch deep
over the left-center-field fence to begin the frame. After a Trojan strikeout Hollett
connected on a 1-1 pitch and hit it over the left-field wall to give Troy a 2-0
lead.
Moore began the fifth frame with an infield single
and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Marcy Sartain. The Trojans drove
their third run across the plate when Rocky Paige lined a double to left-center
field. Gann followed with a double of her own to right-center field for an RBI
to put Troy in front 4-0 after five innings of play.
Troy tacked on an insurance run in the sixth
inning to go ahead 5-0. Belinda White reached on a fielder's choice and
advanced to third off Shields single to right-center field. White would score
on a double steal with Shields.
ULM hosts Grambling State in a non-conference
matchup on Tuesday with first pitch schedule for 6 p.m. at the Warhawks'
softball complex.
