ULM Eliminates Troy from Sun Belt Tournament

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Troy took a 4-2 lead thanks to three runs in the third inning, but ULM took over after that as the Warhawks eliminated the Trojans from the Sun Belt Championships with a 10-4 win at the FAU Softball Stadium.

Ashley Rainey (17-13) was tagged with the loss for the Trojans (31-24) after giving up eight runs, but just four earned, on nine hits with no walks. Jaycee Affeldt made a relief in appearance for the Trojans, but didn't record an out in the fifth inning as she gave up two runs on one hit and two walks.

Jessica Chastka (1-3) got the win in relief for ULM thanks to 4.1 scoreless innings in which she gave up just four hits. Samantha Hamby got the start for ULM (25-25) and went 2.2 innings, giving up four runs on three hits and four walks.

Bailey Blake had two hits and two RBI for the Trojans while Kacie McAllister also had two RBI.

ULM struck first as they plated two in the first inning thanks to Janel Salanoa's two-run home run. Salanoa's fourth homer of the season plated Charlotte Pastor as well who singled just off of Rainey's glove to reach first.

Troy cut into the lead in the second inning, starting with Hannah Renn's leadoff walk. The junior catcher moved to second base on Sarah Shields groundout, then third base when Caitlin Ortiz singled, and scored on Bailey Blake's RBI double, the first extra base hit of Blake's Troy career.

The double left two runners in scoring position with just one out, but the Trojans left the bases loaded as they couldn't scratch anymore than the one run to cut the lead to 2-1.

Again, a leadoff walk triggered a Trojan rally as Hayden Gann drew the free pass to start a three-run inning for the Trojans in the third. Gann moved to second on a one-out single and to third on a fielder's choice that left Trojans on the corners with two outs.

Ortiz was hit by a pitch to load the bases to start the Trojans two-out rally. Blake drew a bases loaded walk for her second RBI of the game to tie the score at 2-2 and chase Hamby. Jessica Chastka came on in relief and gave up a two-RBI single to Kacie McAllister, giving Troy a 4-2 lead.

Rainey had faced the minimum since Salanoa's first-inning home run when the Warhawks first baseman came up again in the fourth inning. Salanoa led off the inning with her second homer of the game to cut the lead to 4-3 for ULM.

The next batter for ULM doubled, and moved to third on a passed ball, before scoring an unearned run on a squeeze bunt to tie the game at 4-4.

ULM took the lead in the fifth with three runs. Two of the runs were charged to Affeldt who relieved Rainey after a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt put the go ahead run at second base. Affeldt allowed the run to score and also allowed ULM to load the bases before Rainey reentered the game.

Rainey allowed a sacrifice fly and a single which each scored a run and gave ULM a 7-4 lead. The Warhawks added three more runs, all unearned, in the sixth inning thanks to two Troy errors on bunt attempts as they took a 10-4 lead.

The loss ends the season for Troy as the Trojans dropped their final eight games of the season. ULM next faces the loser of the Louisiana-Lafayette and WKU game in another elimination game.