Sports Editor

Following Georgia Tech’s five-run seventh inning win over Troy State in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader, TSU head coach Melanie Davis challenged her team to step up to the plate and perform in the second contest.

In the opening game, the Lady Trojans had fought back to tie it at two runs apiece on an Erin Flater infield single, but Sonaya Reddick’s three-run homer off TSU closer Christi Curran highlighted the Lady Jackets’ big final inning and Troy State fell 7-3.

"I got after the girls good after the first game," said Davis. "We were hitting the ball well, but we weren’t being clutch hitters."

And the Lady Trojans were up to the challenge.

Tamra Howren knocked her fifth homer of the season, a three-run shot into left-center in the third, and the Lady Trojans (19-7) completed the two-game series with a 7-0 win over the visiting ACC Yellow Jackets (19-7).

"Anytime you get a win over an ACC team it feels good," said Davis. "I’m proud of the way our team responded after the first loss. If you’re going to split a doubleheader you would rather win the second one, because it’s something positive to close out the day."

Cassie Wilkinson took her eighth win on the mound for Troy State, holding Georgia Tech to just three hits in the contest. The junior from Miami walked two batters and struck out a season-high six.

"Cassie did a great job for us today," said Davis. "I was also pleased with the way we hit in the second game because, statistically, their (Tech’s) pitcher was actually stronger then the one we faced in the first game."

The Lady Trojans opened with a double in the first inning by Kami Marrott. Marrott scored on a delayed single by Peggy Swift to give TSU the early 1-0 lead.

Howard drove in both Jenny Boyd and Mindy Porep in the third inning with her homerun, putting Troy State up 4-0.

The Lady Trojans added three more runs in the sixth inning and the game was called at that point due to darkness.

Curran (4-2) was charged with the loss for Troy State in the first game after giving up five runs on three hits in the final inning. Kim Unkenholz was the Lady Trojans’ starter, allowing two runs off five hits, while striking out three Tech batters.

The Lady Jackets scored two runs in the opening inning of play as Felicia Coursey led off with a double and scored on a right field single by teammate Sara Wissman. Jamie Frost’s RBI single then put Georgia Tech up 2-0.

Porep cut the lead in half in the Lady Trojans’ first at-bat as she scored on a delayed steal by Erica Cruzat.

A Marrott single scored Porep in Troy State’s half of the seventh, but Bonnie Belin went down swinging with runners on first and second to close the game.

Both Marrott and Boyd were 3-for-4 to lead TSU at the plate in the loss.

The Lady Trojans play next at the Rebel Games in Kissimmee, Fla., on Saturday. TSU will play six games against Monmouth, Penn, Yale, Dartmouth, Columbia and Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Troy State’s next home game at the Lady Trojan Softball Complex is on March 26 against Elon University.