Softball Splits Opening Day of Trojan Classic

Friday, February 10

Troy, Ala.

2 p.m.

Troy University

1-0

SIUE

0-1

SIU-Edwardsville

Troy

Softball Splits Opening Day of Trojan Classic

2/10/2023 8:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Troy-SIUE Box Score Troy-Belmont Box Score Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2 Photo Gallery 3

By: Troy Athletics Communications

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TROY, Ala. – Troy opened the 2023 season splitting a pair of games Friday at the Troy Softball Complex. The Trojans defeated SIU-Edwardsville, 4-0, in the season opener before falling to Belmont, 6-2, in the nightcap. Troy's opening win was the first for new head coach Eric Newell.

Troy 4, SIU-Edwardsville 0

Troy jumped on SIU-Edwardsville for three runs in the first inning and rode the arm of ace Leanna Johnson for its first win of the season.

In her first at-bat as a Trojan, Florida State transfer D'Aun Riggs ripped a triple into the gap in right-center field to lead off the bottom of the first inning and scored one batter later as Jade Sinness blasted a double to center field. Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Kelly Horne followed with a single to left, and Taylor McKinney scored Sinness with a sac fly.

Following a Libby Baker single, Audra Thompson laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to plate pinch runner Aayanah Hughes to cap the 3-run frame.

Horne finished 2-for-3 to lead Troy's 6-hit attack, while Piper Montgomery was responsible for both SIUE (0-1) hits off Johnson.

The shutout was the 30^th of Johnson's career to extend her school record in the category, and she moved with 16 victories of becoming Troy's all-time leader. The senior struck out five batters and walked one over her seven shutout innings of work.

The Trojans manufactured another run in the home half of the third after Sinness walked to lead off the frame and Horne singled. McKinney advanced the runners with a sac bunt, and Baker followed with a sac fly to center.

Lexi King took the loss in the circle for the Cougars after she allowed three runs on four hits in just one-third of an inning before Kelsey Ray came out of the bullpen and held Troy to one run on two hits over the final 5.2 innings.

Belmont 6, Troy 2

Unlike the opener, it was Troy's opponent who jumped on the scoreboard early, as Belmont plated four runs in the top of the first inning, including a 2-run home run off the bat of Kristen Green. Brenna Blume and Emily Cockrill followed with RBI singles later in the frame before McKinney threw a strike from right field to catch Blume trying to advance to third.

Freshman Sissy Dunn reached base in all three of her plate appearances in her first collegiate action, including blasting a double and scoring a run in her first at-bat. Riggs and Sinness added singles as the Trojans finished with four hits on the night.

The Trojans (1-1) cut into the deficit in the third on Riggs' infield single to score Dunn, while a wild pitch in the sixth inning allowed Sinness to score after she reached on a one-out single.

Belmont (1-0) added two more runs in the fourth, including Green's third RBI of the night.

Maya Johnson went the distance in the circle for the Bruins striking out 10 batters and scattering four hits. Haley Pittman took the loss for the Trojans after allowing four runs on five hits in an inning of work. Libby Baker threw four innings and allowed two runs with four strikeouts, while Olivia Cato made her collegiate debut with two shutout innings.

Up Next
The Trojan Invitational continues Saturday, with three games beginning at 11 a.m. between SIUE and Belmont. Troy takes to the diamond at 2 p.m. against SIUE before taking on Belmont at 5 p.m.