TSU Sweeps Belmont

Published 12:00 am Monday, April 29, 2002

From Special Reports -Tamra Howren broke the single-season record for most runs batted in, driving in her three runs in the doubleheader, leading the Troy State softball team to a sweep of Belmont in its last Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader of the season on Saturday.

Howren’s RBI double broke open the scoring in the first game as Troy State came away with a 3-0 win.

In the second game, Howren drove in two more runs, as Troy State pounded out eight hits and gave up just two and pulled out an 8-0 win in five innings.

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"I’m really proud of the girls for focusing on these games and getting two wins," said Troy State head coach Melanie Davis.

"Our pitching staff did a great job against their hitters and our offense continued to hit the ball well.

Now we face two top 25 teams in our last three games starting with Alabama on Tuesday."

In her freshman season, Howren has set a new single-season record for home runs with eight and now breaks Holly Mantooth’s record of 50 RBIs, set in 1999.

Howren now has 53 RBIs this season, which is also tops in the A-Sun.

"I’m really proud of Tamra," Davis said.

"She is a great player and is always working on getting better.

If she stays healthy, she’ll rewrite the entire record book at Troy State."

Troy State (45-15, 13-5 A-Sun) jumped out in game one with two runs in the second inning.

The Lady Trojans tacked on a run in the fourth to go on top 3-0. Molly Homer’s single through the right side drove in Kami Marrott to extend the TSU lead.

And that would be all the support Kim Unkenholz would need.

Unkenholz (12-4) got the win for Troy State, giving up just two hits in six innings of work, while striking out three and walking two.

Christi Curran worked a scoreless seventh to preserve the shutout.

Beth Rambo (3-13) got the loss for Belmont (13-39, 3-15 A-Sun). She allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out one in six innings.

The Lady Trojans offense got on roll early in the second game, scoring six runs in the second inning to take the lead.

On a Homer single through the left side, Belmont’s Allison Alvarez’s throw from left field sailed to the back stop, allowing Erica King to score from second. Curran followed by reaching on fielder’s choice as Belmont’s second baseman Jen Binkley’s throw was late at the plate, as Marrott came racing home from third.

Peggy Swift followed with sacrifice fly, driving in Homer from third.

Jenny Boyd stepped up next lacing a RBI double to right center, driving in Curran.

Howren came up and cleared the bases with a triple, driving in Boyd and Mindy Porep, who has singled, to put TSU on top 6-0.

The Lady Trojans added a run in the third on a RBI triple by a Swift and another in the fourth on a single by Bonnie Belin to ice the 8-0 win in five innings.

Cassie Wilkenson (16-4) got the win for Troy State.

She gave up just two hits and struck out four over five innings for her fourth shutout of the season.

Carla Cotham (4-10) got the loss for Belmont.

She allowed six runs on six hits while walking one in 1.1 innings pitched.

The Lady Trojans play host to No. 15 Alabama in a single game at the Lady Trojan Softball Complex on Tuesday.

First pitch is set for 4 p.m.