Softball falls to Rajun’ Cajuns in doubleheader

Saturday, April 19, was not a good day for the Troy softball team, now 2-10 in the Sun Belt Conference, as they dropped both games in a doubleheader against the Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette at home.

Due to rain, game one and two of the series was canceled on Friday, April 18, and the Trojans only played the Ragin’ Cajuns in one doubleheader on Saturday instead.

The first game, at noon, saw a 5-0 loss for the Trojans as they simply were not able to work their way around the bases.

The Trojans were able to make contact at bat with a total of five hits, two for senior first baseman Kacie McAllister, and one hit each for senior outfielder Ebony Wright, sophomore second baseman Chandler Griffin and junior pitcher Jaycee Affeldt.

Affeldt stood strong on the mound, allowing only two hits in the first game and pitching for six strikeouts, throwing 73 strikes in her 136 pitches that game.

Unfortunately for the Trojans, in the top of the third, the Ragin’ Cajuns picked up a grand slam off sophomore outfielder Shellie Landry, resulting in a 4-0 lead, which would become the final 5-0 loss from another ULL run in the top of the fourth.

In the following game, the Trojans once again were not able to take the win at home as they fell with a heartbreaking 9-0 loss.

In game two, the Trojan pitching was not as successful in keeping the Ragin’ Cajuns at bay as they picked up sixteen hits to the Trojan’s three in twenty-five total at-bats.

Hits for the Trojans included one each from McAllister, Wright and Griffin, all strong players returning with bats still swinging from game one into game two.

The game featured pitching by sophomore Rachel Rigney, who threw 22 strikes in 36 pitches and sophomore Ashley Rainey, who would pick up the loss for the Trojans after throwing for 75 strikes in her 109 total pitches.

In this game, the Ragin’ Cajuns came in fast and hit hard, beginning their momentum in the top of the second with their first score, and then continuing it through into the top of the third where they would pick up three more runs.

It was all downhill for the Trojans from there as Louisiana-Lafayette would pick up two in the top of the fifth and then another three in the top of the seventh.

Unfortunately for the Trojans, despite a few solid hits, they were unable to bring any runners home resulting in another shutout on their home field.

On Tuesday, April 22, Troy turned the tables by shutting out Florida A&M 4-0. Affeldt had a career-high of 11 strikeouts. The Trojans earned two runs in both the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings.

The Trojans, now sporting a 19-27-2 overall record prepare for their next game at home on Friday, April 26, at 1 p.m. against Texas State.