After three straight shutouts, the Troy University softball team reclaimed some of its early season glory Tuesday night with an 8-0 win over Kennesaw State at home.

The Trojans (24-15) split the doubleheader with the Owls, falling 1-0 in game one before taking the shutout win in the second thanks to a crucial fourth inning scoring drive.

With two Trojans on base in the fourth inning, senior Nikki Hollett managed to reach base thanks to a KSU error on a sacrifice bunt attempt, putting the Trojans in the best scoring position they had all night.

Another KSU error and a single by pitcher Jaycee Affeldt brought in the first run to make it 1-0 Troy followed with a hit down the left field line by Sarah Harris that fell just fair to bring in two more.

The Trojans brought another RBI in the fifth on a double by senior Sarah Shields to make it 5-0, followed by another in the sixth thanks to a single by Kelly Luquette.

Up 6-0 and victory all but sealed, the Trojans drove the final nail in on another hit down the left field line by Hayden Gann, which brought in the final two RBIs and ended the game early at 8-0.

“I’m really proud of how we fought tonight,” Trojans head coach Melanie Davis said. “It had been three games in a row that we had been shut out so I think we made a statement today. We made great adjustments to their pitchers including their number one Amanda Henderson, we got a lead and took some of the pressure off and played well.”

The Trojans were able to hold the Owls in game two to only four hits, as opposed to the Trojans 10, and put in a solid pitching game under Affeldt.

Affeldt pitched all six innings for the Trojans, striking out none and finishing with only four hits and no errors.

Ashley Rainey took to the circle for the Trojans in game one, where in seven innings she struck out three and allowed only one run in the second inning in the loss.

“Several of their hitters have given us havoc throughout their careers so for us to keep it infield and shut them out was a big thing,” Davis said. “If our girls can keep their performance and our bats can get stronger we can really build on things moving forward.”

The Trojans will go back on the road on April 12 for the first of a string of four road games, which includes a three game series against Sun Belt Conference rival Florida Atlantic.

The Trojans have four more conference series before the Sun Belt Conference tournament in May, and after FAU will face Middle Tennessee, North Texas and South Alabama.

The Trojans will return home to play on April 19, squaring off against Florida State University in one of only three non-conference matches left in the season.