Blue Raiders drop doubleheader

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee was unable to get going offensively as they dropped a doubleheader to the Troy Trojans on opening day of Sun Belt Conference play at Blue Raider Field on Tuesday afternoon.

The Blue Raiders came into the game looking to start strong in conference play and rebound from a tough weekend at the Florida State Invitational, where they dropped games to Liberty, Bethune-Cookman and #25 Florida State.

Middle Tennessee managed just one hit as they fell 3-0 to the Trojans in the first game of the day.

Lindsey Vander Lugt (3-6) picked up the loss for Middle Tennessee. The junior allowed three runs on nine hits in the complete game outing.

Ashlyn Williams (11-4) allowed just one hit over seven innings for the win. The righty struck out 13 and walked one in the shutout.

Neither team threatened until Troy put three runs on the board in the fifth inning.

Felicia Hammer singled down the left field line before Hillary Hughes hit a two-run homerun to deep centerfield. Hayden Gann nailed a two-out RBI single up the middle to make it 3-0 in favor of the away team.

The Blue Raiders failed to manage a hit until Kelsey Dortch smashed a deep drive to center field to break up the no-hitter by Williams with two outs in the final inning.

Middle Tennessee scored first but gave up four runs in the fourth inning and could not overcome the deficit as they fell 6-1 to the Trojans in the second game of the afternoon.

Caty Jutson (1-4) gave up six runs on 14 hits in the first complete game performance of her career.

Allison Moore (5-1) allowed one run on two hits for the victory. The righty also struck out five batters and walked one in the seven inning performance.

Middle Tennessee went out in front in the opening inning off some timely hitting by a veteran player. Brittney Banania drew a lead off walk to begin the game before advancing to second base on a passed ball by Trojan catcher Felicia Hammer. Martha Davis singled up the middle for her 14th RBI of the season to put the Blue Raiders up 1-0.

Davis was 1-for-3 with a RBI in the game to lead the Blue Raiders and has now reached base in seven of the last eight games.

Troy used a long ball to take lead in the top of the third inning. Kala Moore beat out a hit to the shortstop for a single before Rocky Paige hit her second homerun of the season to put the away team up 2-1.

The Trojans used four hits in the top of the fourth inning to increase their advantage to 6-1. Kenney singled to the infield and advanced to second and into scoring position off a Kaycee Popham throwing error to first base.

Two batters later, Kala Moore nailed an RBI single through the middle to make it 3-1. Hayden Gann, Tasha Elmore and Heidi Johnson also picked up RBIs for Troy to round out the inning.

Blue Raider first baseman Popham showed a nice display of individual effort in the bottom of the fifth frame. With one out, the freshman caught a hard hit ball down the first base line, spun around and dove to the bag for the double play, just catching it with her glove ahead of a sliding Kenney.

The Blue Raiders conclude the three-game series with the Trojans at Blue Raider Field on Wednesday. Opening pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

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