Trojans extend win streak to 11 games
Published 7:47 pm Monday, April 8, 2019
Leanna Johnson pitched her first career no-hitter to power Troy past Georgia State, 3-0, in game three after Kelly Horne’s walk-off single gave the Trojans a 2-1 extra-innings victory in game two to complete the sweep of Georgia State Sunday afternoon at the Troy Softball Complex.
The sweep was the third straight for Troy in Sun Belt Conference play as the team has now won 11 consecutive games overall.
The Trojans (29-13, 11-4 Sun Belt) have swept back-to-back-to-back conference series for the first time since 2005 when Troy was a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Johnson’s no-hitter was the first tossed by a Trojan since current assistant coach Jaycee Affeldt threw one against Tennessee State in 2014.
Game One: Troy 2, Georgia State 1
After game two of the series was suspended due to lightning, the game resumed Sunday with the score tied and one out in the top half of the seventh inning.
The pitchers dueled until the bottom of the 11th inning when Kelly Horne ripped a walk-off single up the middle to score Grace Mirly, who pinch ran for Bailey Taylor, after Taylor led off with a single.
Annie Willis got the start for Troy pitching nine of the eleven innings. Willis sat down nine batters and scattered two hits. Leanna Johnson (20-5) earned the win after retiring three of the seven batters faced.
Emily Soles (2-11) suffered the loss for Georgia State (5-34, 3-12) giving up a run off of two hits in 4.2 innings of work.
Game Two: Troy 3, Georgia State 0
Johnson’s dominance in the circle continued into the series finale when she threw her first career no-hitter to complete the series sweep over Georgia State.
The freshman fanned nine batters through seven innings of work to pick up her fourth win of the week.
Troy struck first in the bottom of the first inning scoring two runs with hits by Talia Truitt, Katie Webb and Stephanie Snyder.
Troy’s scoring was capped off by a leadoff home run by Kaylee Chapman in the bottom of the fourth inning. The long ball to left field was Chapman’s first career home run.
Savannah Freeman (2-10) suffered the loss giving up two runs off of three hits and a walk.
The Trojans are back in action on Wednesday night as they down to South Alabama. First Pitch is set for 6 p.m.