MONROE, La. – The Troy softball team completed its two-day, three-game weekend in Monroe with a 5-2 victory in the final game of the series, handing the Warhawks their third Sun Belt Conference sweep in as many weekends on Sunday, April 18.
Troy (29-9, 13-3 Sun Belt) broke a scoreless tie in the third inning when Katie Lively, the second batter of the frame, drove a solo home run over the left centerfield wall for the 1-0 Trojan lead. Teammate Katie Webb followed with a single to right field before a double to left by Anslee Finch put two runners in scoring position for Troy.
Libby Baker reached base on a fielding miscue, allowing Webb to score the second run of the game for the Trojans.
The lead grew to 3-0 for Troy in the top of the fifth when Webb opened the inning with a solo home run to right centerfield. ULM (13-23, 4-10 Sun Belt) scored its first run of the game in the fifth when
Kelsey Giddens led off with a double to left centerfield. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by
Kennedy Page before scoring on a passed ball.
Troy added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth, which began with a single to first by Tate Moseley. Two batters later, Jade Sinness came through with Troy's third home run of the game and sixth of the three-game series, which traveled over the left centerfield wall.
ULM bounced back with a run in the bottom of the seventh, which again came from Giddens. She opened with a double to center, moving to third on a passed ball. Giddens scored with Kreps at the plate on a wild pitch, making for the 5-2 final.
Giddens was the lone ULM player with multiple hits, closing 2-of-3 at the plate with a pair of runs scored. Giddens was responsible for a pair of doubles while Kreps added a triple of her own in the game. ULM's
Adrianna Chavarria (1-7) tossed a complete game seven-hitter, closing with four strikeouts.
Troy had seven hits in the game, including three from Katie Webb, who finished 3-of-4 from the plate with two runs and a home run. Libby Baker (5-3) picked up the win for the Trojans, allowing five hits over seven innings while converting seven strikeouts.
The Warhawks will head to Hammond, La., for a midweek game against Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday, April 21.