The Troy Trojans (31-22, 10-11) earned a 2-1 Sun Belt Conference series win over the Georgia State Panthers (12-38, 3-18) on the road this weekend. 

The series win keeps Troy in ninth place in the Sun Belt. The Trojans will host the Sun Belt Tournament this season and only the top 10 teams in the conference will qualify for the tournament. The Trojans will clinch a spot in the tournament with just one more conference win. 

Troy opened the series with a resounding 13-6 win on April 25 after throwing a home run party. The Trojans hit a season-high five home runs in the win. Taylor McKinney, Dailynn Motes, Brantley native Kayden Dunn, Natalie Turner and Caiden Oliva each hit a homer. McKinney and Oliva both drove in three runs, while Turner drove in two. Turner and Mia Tidmore scored two runs each. 

Alyssa Faircloth (14-6) earned the win in the circle, striking out one batter and giving up four hits and four earned runs in three innings pitched. Mya Holt also pitched three innings and gave up five hits and two earned runs. Motes tallied eight putouts with no errors, while Boswell earned six putouts and an assist with no errors. 

Georgia State tied the series with a 6-2 win on April 26. Cassidy Boltz had a big day for Troy in the loss, going 2-for-3 with two home runs, two RBIs and two runs. Oliva also went 2-for-3 at the plate. 

Savannah Money (4-6) took the loss, giving up seven hits and four earned runs in two innings pitched. Kate Peters also spent four innings in the circle and fanned one batter, while giving up five hits and two earned runs. Motes earned five putouts and one double play, while Boswell totaled three putouts, two assists and a double play. Neither had a fielding error. 

Troy closed out the series win with a 10-0 victory on Sunday, run-ruling the Panthers after scoring seven runs in the fifth inning. Boswell went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs, while Annie Orman went 2-for-2 with a homer, a double, two RBIs and one run. Reaghan Oney drove in two runs and hit a double. 

Faircloth earned the win in the circle, striking out six batters and giving up one hit and no earned runs. Motes tallied three putouts and no fielding errors. 

“It was a good bounce back from a disappointing day yesterday,” Troy Coach Eric Newell said. “I’m happy to go home with the series victory. I was pleased with how we came out and handled business in short-game fashion. Alyssa did phenomenal on the mound and pitched a shutout, and the long ball kept going. At this time of the season, you have everything going on. You have finals, friends, the softball postseason approaching and much more. 

“But we need to find a way to come out and play for each other. That seven-run inning was amazing. Makaley did well in putting the icing on the cake with her 3-run shot. Everyone came out and contributed to the batter’s box. It’s tough coming off the bench, but it was good to use a little bit of depth today. Everyone stays ready for their opportunity, and that’s being a good team player. We have a heightened series against South with a playoff spot on the line. So, we need Troy fans to pack the stands and poke the Jaguars a little bit.”

Troy closes out the regular season this weekend against rival South Alabama at home May 1-3. The Trojans just need one win in the three-game series to clinch a spot in the Sun Belt Tournament in Troy next week.