Michael Rodgers and Nick Duke

Staff Writers

Following a pair of close losses to the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders, the Troy Trojans softball team took to the field on Wednesday to face in-state rival UAB.
However, it was not an easy series, with the Trojans winning the first game 4-2 and UAB taking the second game 3-1.
UAB’s Andrea Rogers put two runs on the board for the Blazers in the first inning of the first game with a two-run home run, but Troy’s Courtney Davis answered with a two-run blast of her own in the bottom of the inning.
From there, it was a pitcher’s duel until the bottom of the seventh inning, when senior Amanda Ragans hit a two-run walk-off home run to win the game for the Trojans.
Junior Angela Lopez gave up seven hits and recorded seven strikeouts in the complete-game victory.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Trojans struck first when Jessica Lyle brought in senior Stacey Dwyer on an RBI double.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth inning, when UAB’s Holly Krzan brought in Lindsay Stanley to tie the game at one.
With the score still tied up after the seventh inning, the game moved on to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Blazers scored two runs that the Trojans were unable to answer .
The team will look to improve upon its record in Sun Belt conference play when it plays host to Louisiana-Monroe this upcoming weekend.
The Trojans’ conference record currently stands at 1-2, thanks to series loss against Middle Tennessee in Murfreesboro last weekend.
Troy kicked off its 2007 Sun Belt schedule in a doubleheader against the Blue Raiders last Saturday.
The first game was all Troy, as the Trojans used an impressive offensive showing to score four first-inning runs en route to a 12-1 blowout victory in six innings of play.
The Trojans were led on offense by Davis, who drove in three runs on a 2-4 showing at the plate.
Troy’s pitching was outstanding, as freshman Rocky Paige pitched five solid innings, giving up just two hits in that time.
The second game was a much closer affair that Middle Tennessee managed to win in its last at-bat of the ball game.
Troy trailed 2-1 heading into the sixth inning, but the Trojans tied the game by virtue of a solo home run by Dwyer.
The tie would not last long, as Middle Tennessee responded with a two-run sixth inning to retake the lead at 4-2.
However, there was much drama left in the game.
The first two Trojan batters in the top of the seventh inning were both retired, putting the Trojans down to their last out.
Then three consecutive singles by sophomore Felicia Hammer, freshman Tanya McLean and Ragans loaded the bases and gave Troy an opportunity to either take the lead or tie the game at 4.
Sophomore Heidi Johnson could not come through, however, as she grounded out to second base to end the game and give Middle Tennessee a split of the doubleheader.
Troy’s offense was led by Dwyer, whose solo shot accounted for one of the Trojans’ two earned runs.
Lopez took the loss for Troy in the circle, giving up four runs over 5 1/3 innings of work.
The rubber game of the series took place on Sunday, as both teams looked to earn an important conference series victory.
This game was also full of drama, and Troy trailed 2-1 heading into the seventh and final inning of play.
However, Johnson would redeem herself from the previous day, as she had a key two-RBI single to put the Trojans ahead.
Middle Tennessee would not go quietly, though, pushing across a run in their half of the seventh inning to tie the game at three and send the game into extra innings.
The two teams remained tied until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Middle Tennessee’s Melissa Weiland hit a walk-off solo home run to win the game and the series for the Blue Raiders.
Johnson led the Trojan offense, going 2-4 with two RBIs.
Lopez took another tough loss in the circle for Troy, as she gave up the final two Middle Tennessee runs over three innings of work.
The series loss was particularly disappointing for Troy, considering the Trojans had just defeated in-state rival Auburn a few days earlier.
Troy struck first against the Tigers, as Paige had a two-run double for the Trojans in the bottom of the first inning.
Auburn cut the deficit in half in the top of the third by scoring a run off a double by Sara Ghezzi.
Troy would push its lead back out in their half of the third, however, as Lyle had an RBI double for the Trojans.
Neither team would score again, giving the Trojans a 3-1 victory.
“I’m extremely happy for the seniors who have battled Auburn for four years and are now able to go out with a win at home,” Troy head coach Melanie Davis said.
The Trojans will then travel to Alabama A&M for a doubleheader against yet another in-state rival on Wednesday, March 21.