The Troy Trojans (4-2) softball team opened the Cardinal Clash on Thursday with a 4-2 win over the Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) Redhawks (0-1). 

Troy scored one run in the first inning, another in the third and two in the fourth, taking a 4-0 lead into the seventh. SEMO managed to score two runs in the top of the seventh but couldn’t get any closer as the Trojans held on for the win to open the tournament.

Cassidy Boltz led Troy at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Caiden Oliva earned two RBIs and Taylor McKinney, Megan Loftis, McKinnon Howard and Makaley Boswell scored one run each. 

“Obviously SEMO gave us a little bit of a scare there at the end, and they’re a good team that played in the Arkansas Regional last year,” Troy Coach Eric Newell said. “I was proud of the way we battled and we started the game off early. Even though we didn’t close it too well, at the end of the day it’s about winning ballgames and that’s what we did. (Faircloth) was phenomenal, she pitched really well and we’re going to need her.” 

Alyssa Faircloth was a machine in the circle, striking out eight batters and giving up just two hits and no runs in four innings pitched. Esmee Ames pitched two and 2/3 innings and fanned a pair of batters, while giving up three hits and two earned runs. 

Troy continues the Cardinal Clash on Friday against Eastern Illinois and then faces Western Kentucky on Feb. 15 before closing out the tournament on Feb. 16 against Eastern Illinois at 11:30 a.m. and Alabama State at 2:30 p.m.