The Troy Trojans softball team opened up the 2025 season this weekend with the Trojan Classic, going 3-2 over the five-game span. 

Troy started off with a barrage of home runs to lift the Trojans to a 7-4 win in the season opener over Central Michigan on Feb. 7. Troy fell behind 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, but exploded to score five runs off a three-run home run from Cassidy Boltz and a two-run homer from Taylor McKinney to put Troy up 5-2. Central Michigan cut the lead to 5-4 in the top of the sixth, but Caiden Oliva hit a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth followed by another solo homer from Sarah Beth Brake to seal the 7-4 win.

Oliva led Troy at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a homer, one RBI and one run. Boltz went 1-for-2 with a home run, three RBIs and a run. Mya Holt got the win in the circle, pitching five and 1/3 innings with two strikeouts, while giving up five hits and three earned runs. Kayden Dunn earned 11 putouts for Troy on defense. 

The Trojans followed up on Friday with an 8-2 win over Tennessee State. McKinney led Troy at the plate in the win, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, an RBI and two runs, while Dunn went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run. Makaley Boswell also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a double. Alyssa Faircloth got the win in the circle, striking out six batters and giving up four hits and one earned run in six innings of work. Dunn tallied six putouts and two assists, while Natalie Turner added three putouts and four assists. 

On Saturday, Troy suffered its first loss of the season by a score of 7-3 to North Texas. After the Trojans went up 2-0 in the first inning, North Texas scored seven straight runs. Troy managed one final run in the bottom of the seventh but would never draw any closer.

McKinney, Dunn, Boltz and Dailynn Motes each earned one hit. McKinney, Dunn and Boltz scored one run each. Faircloth took the loss in the circle, striking out one batter and giving up four hits and four earned runs in three innings pitched. Esmee Ames also pitched three innings and fanned one batter, while giving up no hits or runs. Dunn had seven putouts and one assist. 

The Trojans rebounded to beat Tennessee State in a rematch by a score of 8-1 later in the day. McKinney had another big game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, one RBI and two runs, while McKinnon Howard went 3-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run. Boltz went 2-for-3 with a run. Oliva also hit a solo home run. 

Ames got her first win in the circle, striking out three batters and giving up five hits with one earned run in six and 1/3 innings pitched. On defense, Dunn earned 11 putouts. 

Troy wrapped up the Trojan Classic on Sunday with a 12-0 loss to Samford. The Trojans managed just two hits as a team in the loss, while Samford belted 14 hits with 12 runs. Troy threw four different pitchers at Samford. Mya Holt took the loss, striking out one batter and giving up five hits and two earned runs in two and 1/3 innings pitched. 

For the weekend, McKinney held a .467 batting average with three home runs, two doubles, four RBIs and six runs. Ames held a 0.75 ERA with four strikeouts in nine and 1/3 innings pitched. Dunn earned 39 put outs and three assists with two double plays, holding a .977 fielding percentage. 

Troy will also host the Cardinal Classic this week, beginning with a matchup against SEMO on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 4:30 p.m. On Friday, Troy faces Eastern Illinois at 5:30 p.m. and then battles Western Kentucky at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 15. The Trojans will close out the weekend with a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 16, against Eastern Illinois at 11:30 a.m. and Alabama State at 2:30 p.m.