TROY, Ala. – Troy softball prepares to open their 2024 season by hosting UT Martin, North Alabama and Samford in the Trojan Invitational at the Troy Softball Complex on February 9-11.
Troy begins their season on Friday against UT Martin, with the first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. This game will be UT Martin's second game of the day, with their first matchup being against Samford at 9 a.m. The Trojans have seen success against UT Martin, as they have won all six of their previous matchups. The last time the two programs met was in 2014, which resulted in an 8-7 Troy victory.
The Trojans then play their second game of the day against North Alabama at 6 p.m. The last time that Troy saw the Lions was in 2019, with Leanna Johnson pitching a shutout.
Both programs saw plenty of success in 2023 and will be battling to start this season on the right page.
Troy and head coach Eric Newell are entering the second year of their relationship and are looking to improve off their 33-19-1 record that they posted last season. The Trojans finished conference play at 14-9-1, but their season ended early when No.5 ranked Texas State eliminated them in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament.
The tournament continues for the host team on Saturday with their second game against UT Martin at 3 p.m. and their first matchup against Samford set for the night game at 6 p.m.
The Trojans have seen tons of success against the Bulldogs, entering this contest on a 3-game winning streak against this program and a 44-12 record overall.
Opening weekend ends for the Trojans on Sunday with their second matchups against both North Alabama and Samford, with first pitches scheduled for 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.
The Anchors of Troy
Taylor McKinney – the All-Sun Belt preseason award winner and 2023 Second Team All-Sun Belt second baseman, returns for her third season in the Wiregrass. The junior utility player led the Trojans with a .349 batting average, a .691 slugging percentage, 41 runs scored, 53 hits, 51 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, 105 total bases and 12 home runs.
Jade Sinness – the super-slugging outfielder returns for her senior season. The Sebring, Florida native brings her .312 career batting average, 25 home runs, 98 RBIs and 179 hits back to Troy for her fifth season.
Libby Baker – the two-way athlete returns for her fifth season to bolster Troy's pitching rotation as well as solidifying first base. In 2023, she primarily played at first base and achieved All-Sun Belt Second Team honors last season. Baker finished her junior season ranked second on the team in batting average with a .329 clip as well as 12 home runs and 31 RBIs. In 2022, Baker appeared primarily in the circle, pitching 110.2 innings and ranking second on the team in strikeouts with 115.
A Look at the Skyhawks
Just days before the tournament, UT Martin's head coach Brian Dunn has announced his retirement after a four-season tenure with the Skyhawks. Dunn finished with a 96-72 record throughout his time with the program. UT Martin finished 2023 below .500 with a 23-24 record, however, they finished the season one game shy of making the OVC Softball Championship.
The Skyhawks are returning 2023 All-OVC First Team outfielder Kaci Fuller. The senior hit at a .404 clip in 2023 and finished the season with 61 hits, 30 RBIs and seven home runs. UT Martin is also returning two-way player Katie Drieling. The senior utility player finished the 2023 season with a 2.54 ERA and over 118 innings from the circle while also hitting .310 from the plate with 10 home runs and 21 RBIs.
Dive Deeper with the Lions
The North Alabama Lions are prepared to build off their successful 2023 campaign. They were voted to finish third place in the ASUN by coaches. The Lions also have the ASUN Preseason Pitcher of the Year in junior transfer Alivia Wilken. Wilken joins UNA after two conference championship-winning seasons at Wallace State. UNA finished last season with a 34-17-1 record and made it to the ASUN championship where they fell just short of a title. The Lions' lineup is headlined by senior Felicity Frame who finished the 2023 season with a .383 batting average and 72 hits.
All About the Bulldogs
The Samford Bulldogs are looking to build off their momentum from the end of the 2023 season. The Bulldogs fell to the No. 1 seed UNCG Spartans in the SOCON championship game. Samford was voted second in the preseason polls with four players named to the preseason All-SOCON team. The Bulldogs are returning reigning SOCON pitcher of the year McKenzie Newcomb. The junior has a career 2.61 ERA with 347 total strikeouts in 379.2 innings. Samford is also returning junior catcher Logan Champion. She started 57 games as the Bulldogs' backstop and finished the season with a .314 batting average with 10 home runs and 28 RBIs.
