The Troy Trojans (32-22, 11-11) secured a Sun Belt Conference Tournament spot with a 7-6 win over rival South Alabama Jaguars (19-30, 8-13) at home on Thursday, May 1. 

Troy came into the conference series with South Alabama needing just one win to ensure a spot in the tournament, which will be hosted in Troy this season. Troy controlled much of the game. After trailing 3-2 going into the third inning, the Trojans reeled off five straight runs – sparked by a two-run inside-the-park home run from Annie Orman – to take a 7-3 lead. Troy never trailed again, though South Alabama did manage to get the score back within one run before the Trojans secured the victory. 

“It was a big win tonight,” Troy Coach Eric Newell said. “I’m so happy for our girls, and it was something that they were certainly kind of stressed about, but we got the job done and I couldn’t be more happy. Especially for our senior class, they wanted this. This year in the Sun Belt has been such a grind – it is every year but this is such a unique year in that we’re fighting for a playoff spot in the last weekend of the year, but we’re only four games back of first place.”

Taylor McKinney led Troy at the plate going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Those two hits also put McKinney over 200 career hits. Caiden Oliva went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, while Makaley Boswell went 2-for-3 with two runs. Orman drove in three runs and Cassidy Boltz drove in two. 

Kate Peters (1-0) earned her first win in the circle this season, striking out three batters and giving up four hits and one earned run in three and 2/3 innings pitched. Mya Holt also earned her first save this season, giving up two hits and no runs in one and 2/3 innings of work. Dailynn Motes tallied six putouts, two assists and a double play, while Boswell earned three putouts, four assists and a double play. Neither had a fielding error. 

For South Alabama, Gabby Stagner went 3-for-3 with a homer, a double, three RBIs and a run. Ryley Harrison pitched six innings and struck out four batters, while giving up seven hits and two earned runs. Stagner totaled nine putouts and one assist with no errors. 

Troy plays a doubleheader against South Alabama on Friday, starting at 3 p.m. The Sun Belt Tournament begins on May 7 in Troy.