Faircloth’s no-hitter punctuates huge week

Brady Fitch photo

Alyssa Faircloth pitches in a game against SEMO.

Alyssa Faircloth shined in the circle for the Trojans this past week. Faircloth fanned 18 batters through 10.1 innings of work from the circle, throwing a no-hitter against UMass.

During this span, she only walked one batter.

The sophomore did this against quality competition as the week started with her leading the Trojans into battle the Auburn Tigers – in Auburn, Alabama. In this start against the No. 17 ranked program, she pitched 3.1 innings, collecting nine strikeouts with eight consecutive coming through her first 11 batters.

“When she’s on she gives us a legitimate shot – she was absolutely lights out and has some special stuff,” head coach Eric Newell told Troy Athletics.

While Faircloth did allow two free passes in the outing, her performance in the strikeout department set the Trojans apart. At the time it was the fifth game where Troy had secured eight or more punchouts. Also, it was the second straight game as they tallied nine against Western Michigan.

Following that performance, the question surrounding Faircloth was if she could do it again in her next outing. Luckily, her next chance came Saturday afternoon against the Minutewomen of UMass.

She entered the circle under the pressure to perform following her last start. She also was looking to close the door on UMass as earlier in the day freshman Mya Holt pitched her first  shutout of the year.

The Northport, Alabama, native answered the bell by retiring all but one Minutewomen her first time through the order. On top of that she added nine strikeouts, making this her fifth game of the season where she recorded eight or more punchouts. She followed up her performance at Auburn by pitching a complete game shut out – allowing one walk.

Her outing is the first seven-inning no-hitter since Leanna Johnson’s against UT-Arlington in 2022, not to be confused with Libby Baker’s five inning no-hit performance against Coastal Carolina in 2024.

Faircloth has now struck out nine batters in her last three trips to the circle. She also entered the weekend leading the Sun Belt Conference in strikeouts – she added nine to that total. While there is no timetable on the next time Faircloth will take the circle again, the Trojans will be in action again Wednesday when the Bulldogs of Alabama A&M roam into the Troy Softball Complex.