McKinney continues stellar Trojan career against Eagles

Troy Athletics photo

Taylor McKinney throws the ball back into the infield.

Over the weekend, the Troy softball team welcomed conference foe Georgia Southern into the Troy Softball Complex. While they were able to take game one from the league-leading Eagles, games two and three did not go the Trojans way, with the series ending 2-1.

In total, Troy plated seven runs over the three-game span with some help coming from Taylor McKinney. McKinney slashed two home runs en route to a four-hit weekend. She also added two RBIs and two runs, respectively.

While she is listed as a utility player, she has started a majority of the season in left field after playing second base last season.  She has become a cornerstone in left, boasting a .971 fielding percentage this season. Over the course of the series, she maintained a perfect 1.000 fielding record, recording eight putouts and an assist, hosing a runner trying to take third base.

In the series opener on Friday, McKinney blasted her way into sole possession of fifth place in Troy history for career home runs. Sunday’s action marked 29 straight contests that the Montgomery, Alabama, native has reached base, the longest streak by a Trojan since 2016. Sunday also was the day she moved into a tie for 10th place in Troy history for home runs in a single season.

“She’s a special player having a special year – she’s been good for a long time,” said head coach Eric Newell. “In my eyes, that’s a future Troy Softball Hall of Famer.”

Over her time at Troy, the senior has been consistently improving from the plate. In 2024, she hit at a .343 clip – second on the team. She also sent six balls out of the park with 28 RBIs.

This year, she is on pace to top those numbers, already nearly doubling last year’s home run total. This season has also seen her boost her batting average over 30 points, as she is currently hitting .378 so far. As for pushing runs across the plate, she sits at 40 RBIs.

While her performance at the plate couldn’t lift the Trojans to a series win over the Eagles, she’s been paramount in the 27-19 record the team holds. A 6-9 record in conference play has the Trojans near the middle of the pack chasing teams such as the Georgia Southern Eagles and Texas State Bobcats.

Troy has a three-game set with the Bobcats in San Marcos, Texas, starting Thursday, Apr. 17, 2025. From there they travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to take on Georgia State.