2023 Troy Trojans softball team

2023 Troy Trojans softball
2023 Troy Trojans softball
Conference	Sun Belt Conference
Record	33–19–1 (14–9–1 SBC)
Head coach	Eric Newell (1st season);
Assistant coaches	Camden Decker; Anna Shelnutt;
Home stadium	Troy Softball Complex

2023 Sun Belt Conference softball standings
	Conf.						Overall
Team	W		L		T	PCT	W		L		T	PCT
Louisiana ‍†‍‡‍^y	22	–	2	–	0	.917	47	–	14	–	0	.770
South Alabama ‍‍‍	20	–	4	–	0	.833	39	–	14	–	0	.736
Marshall ‍‍‍	17	–	5	–	0	.773	45	–	9	–	0	.833
‍‍‍	14	–	9	–	1	.604	33	–	19	–	1	.632
Texas State ‍‍‍^y	13	–	9	–	1	.587	34	–	23	–	1	.595
James Madison ‍‍‍	13	–	11	–	0	.542	28	–	19	–	0	.596
Coastal Carolina ‍‍‍	11	–	13	–	0	.458	36	–	20	–	0	.643
Louisiana-Monroe ‍‍‍	7	–	17	–	0	.292	25	–	32	–	0	.439
Georgia State ‍‍‍	7	–	17	–	0	.292	18	–	36	–	0	.333
Southern Miss ‍‍‍	6	–	17	–	0	.261	22	–	24	–	0	.478
Georgia Southern ‍‍‍	6	–	18	–	0	.250	17	–	34	–	0	.333
Appalachian State ‍‍‍	4	–	18	–	0	.182	23	–	28	–	0	.451

† – Conference champion ‡ – Tournament champion y – Invited to the NCAA tournament As of May 28, 2023^[1] Rankings from NFCA/USA Today

The 2023 Troy Trojans softball team represented Troy University during the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. The Trojans played their home games at Troy Softball Complex. The Trojans were led by first-year head coach Eric Newell after longtime head coach Beth Mullins resigned for health reasons the previous March. Mullins ranked second all-time in wins for the Trojans.^[2] They were members of the Sun Belt Conference.

Preseason

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 2, 2023. Troy was picked to finish fourth in the conference with 99 votes.^[3]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
Coaches poll
1	Louisiana	144 (12)
2	Texas State	130
3	South Alabama	118
4	Troy	99
5	James Madison	93
6	Marshall	80
7	Southern Miss	68
8	Appalachian State	63
9	Louisiana–Monroe	44
10	Coastal Carolina	43
11	Georgia State Georgia Southern	27

Personnel

2023 Troy Trojans softball team

Players

Coaches

#	Pos.	Name	Bats/throws	Height	Year	Home town
1	OF	D'Aun Riggs	L/R	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)	Jr	Fort Walton Beach, Florida
2	OF	Anslee Finch	R/R	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	Jr	Geneva, Alabama
3	RHP	Libby Baker	R/R	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	Jr	Skipperville, Alabama
5	OF	Emma Grace Walker	L/R	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)	So	Kennesaw, Georgia
6	LHP	Haley Pittman	L/L	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	Jr	Montgomery, Alabama
8	U	Taylor McKinney	R/R	5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)	So	Montgomery, Alabama
9	OF	Jade Sinness	L/L	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	Jr	Sebring, Florida
10	RHP	Leanna Johnson	R/R	5 ft 7 in (1.7 m)	Sr	Brantley, Alabama
11	INF	Audra Thompson	R/R	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)	Jr	Kissimmee, Florida
13	INF	Aayanah Hughes	R/R	5 ft 3 in (1.6 m)	So	McDonough, Georgia
14	C	Emma Faulk	R/R	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)	Fr	Enterprise, Alabama
17	C	Katelynn de Leon	R/R	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)	Jr	Pembroke Pines, Florida
21	OF	Jaida McCord	L/R	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	Fr	Dunwoody, Georgia
22	RHP	Brookelyn Cannon	R/R	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)	So	Hoover, Alabama
24	INF	Kayden Dunn	R/R	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	Fr	Brantley, Alabama
25	OF	Katie Lively	L/R	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)	Sr	Helena, Alabama
29	INF	Kennedi Gaton	R/R	5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)	Jr	Winter Springs, Florida
31	INF	Kelly Horne	R/R	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)	Sr	Tallahassee, Florida
34	RHP	Olivia Cato	R/R	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)	Fr	Palmetto, Georgia
44	INF	Natalie Turner	R/R	5 ft 3 in (1.6 m)	So	Dothan, Alabama

Head coach

Eric Newell (William Woods)

Assistant coach(es)

Camden Decker (Trinity International)
Anna Shelnutt (Florida State)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Current redshirt

Roster
Last update: 27 March 2024

Schedule and results

Legend
	Troy win
	Troy loss
	Postponement/Cancellation/Suspensions
Bold	Troy team member

2023 Troy Trojans softball game log

Regular season (33–18–1)

February (10–5)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SBC record
Trojan Classic
Feb. 10	SIU Edwardsville		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 4–0	Johnson (1–0)	King (0–1)	None	ESPN3	234	1–0
Feb. 10	Belmont		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	L 2–6	Johnson (1–0)	Pittman (0–1)	None	ESPN3	211	1–1
Feb. 12	SIU Edwardsville		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 2–1	Johnson (2–0)	Baalman (0–1)	None	ESPN3	135	2–1
Feb. 12	Belmont		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	L 2–4⁸	Johnson (3–0)	Johnson (2–1)	None	ESPN3	304	2–2

Troy Invitational
Feb. 17	Kennesaw State		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 6–1	Baker (1–0)	Bennett (1-1)	None	ESPN3	53	3–2
Feb. 17	Murray State		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 4–2	Johnson (3–1)	Veber (2-2)	None	ESPN3	78	4–2
Feb. 18	Murray State		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 6–0	Cato (1–0)	James (1–3)	None		187	5–2
Feb. 18	Kennesaw State		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 7–2	Johnson (4–1)	Hilleary (0–1)	None		218	6–2
Feb. 19	Kennesaw State		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	L 0–1	Bennett (1-1)	Cato (1-1)	None	ESPN3	204	6–3

Feb. 22	at Mercer		Sikes Field • Macon, GA	W 8–3	Johnson (5–1)	Taylor (1–2)	None	ESPN+	112	7–3
Unconquered Invitational
Feb. 24	vs. Florida Gulf Coast		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	W 5–4	Johnson (6–1)	Maulding (3–1)	None		126	8–3
Feb. 24	vs. Lamar		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	W 8–0⁵	Cato (2–1)	Ruiz (0–5)	None		126	9–3
Feb. 25	vs. Florida Gulf Coast		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	L 1–6	Haggard (2-2)	Baker (1-1)	None			9–4
Feb. 25	at No. 6 Florida State		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	L 1–2	Sandercock (4–2)	Cato (2-2)	None	ACCNX	1,351	9–5
Feb. 26	vs. Lamar		JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex • Tallahassee, FL	W 2–0	Johnson (7–1)	Mitchell (2–7)	None			10–5

March (14–4–1)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SBC record
Mar. 1	No. 19 Auburn		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	L 0–11	Penta (9–0)	Johnson (7–2)	None	ESPN+	1,822	10–6
JU/UNF Spring Break Challenge
Mar. 3	vs. Jacksonville		UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL	W 12–4⁵	Johnson (8–2)	Harwood (4–3)	None		112	11–6
Mar. 3	vs. Jacksonville		UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL	W 9–0⁵	Cato (3–2)	Whitfield (4–5)	None		210	12–6
Mar. 4	at North Florida		UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL	W 12–1	Johnson (9–2)	Connor (2–3)	None		74	13–6
Mar. 4	at North Florida		UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL	L 6–8	Kelly (7–1)	Cato (1–2)	Connor (2)		74	13–7
Mar. 5	vs. Charleston Southern		UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL	W 6–3	Johnson (10–2)	Lauffer (1–7)	Cato (1)		59	14–7

Mar. 8	at Alabama State		Barbara Williams Softball Complex • Montgomery, AL	W 5–2	Johnson (11–2)	Myers (0–2)	None		80	15–7
Spring Break Challenge
Mar. 10	vs. Army		UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL	W 7–1	Johnson (12–2)	Eaglin (1–2)	Pittman (1)			16–7
Mar. 11	vs. Army		UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL	W 8–0⁵	Johnson (13–2)	Farris (2–8)	None			17–7
Mar. 11	vs. Northern Kentucky		UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL	W 9–2	Johnson (14–2)	Flores (2–6)	None			18–7
Mar. 12	at North Florida		UNF Softball Complex • Jacksonville, FL	W 5–0	Johnson (15–2)	Connor (5–4)	None		209	19–7

Mar. 18	Texas State		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 7–6	Johnson (16–2)	Mullins (11–6)	None	ESPN+	243	20–7	1–0
Mar. 18	Texas State		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 6–3	Cannon (1–0)	Welsh (0–1)	Johnson (2)	ESPN+	356	21–7	2–0
Mar. 19	Texas State		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	T 2–2				ESPN+	373	21–7–1	2–0–1
Mar. 22	Georgia Tech		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	L 0–6	Dennis (10–4)	Cato (3–4)	None	ESPN+	299	21–8–1
Mar. 24	at Louisiana–Monroe		Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA	L 0–2	Abrams (4–3)	Johnson (16–3)	None	ESPN+	367	21–9–1	2–1–1
Mar. 25	at Louisiana–Monroe		Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA	W 7–2	Cato (4-4)	Hulett (7–4)	None	ESPN+	652	22–9–1	3–1–1
Mar. 26	at Louisiana–Monroe		Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA	W 9–2	Johnson (17–3)	Abrams (4-4)	None	ESPN+	615	23–9–1	4–1–1
Mar. 31	at Southern Miss		Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS	W 5–1	Johnson (18–3)	Leinstock (8–10)	None	ESPN+		24–9–1	5–1–1

April (9–6)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SBC record
Apr. 1	at Southern Miss		Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS	W 3–0	Cato (5–4)	Kilgore (4–1)	Johnson (2)	ESPN+		25–9–1	6–1–1
Apr. 2	at Southern Miss		Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS	W 11–3⁵	Johnson (19–3)	Lee (3–4)	None	ESPN+		26–9–1	7–1–1
Apr. 6	Coastal Carolina		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 9–0⁶	Johnson (20–3)	Brabham (10–5)	None	ESPN+	258	27–9–1	8–1–1
Apr. 6	Coastal Carolina		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 8–7	Johnson (21–3)	Brabham (10–6)	None	ESPN+	432	28–9–1	9–1–1
Apr. 7	Coastal Carolina		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	L 0–4	Volpe (8–1)	Johnson (21–4)	None	ESPN+	272	28–10–1	9–2–1
Apr. 12	at No. 21 Auburn		Jane B. Moore Field • Auburn, AL	L 5–7	Penta (18–5)	Cato (5-5)	Lowe (1)	SECN+	1,696	28–11–1
Apr. 14	at James Madison		Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park • Harrisonburg, VA	W 9–8	Johnson (22–4)	Humphrey (8-8)	Cato (2)	ESPN+	231	29–11–1	10–2–1
Apr. 15	at James Madison		Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park • Harrisonburg, VA	L 0–4	Rogers (2-2)	Cato (5–6)	None	ESPN+	415	29–12–1	10–3–1
Apr. 16	at James Madison		Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park • Hattiesburg, VA	L 7–10	Berry (9–2)	Johnson (22–5)	None	ESPN+	525	29–13–1	10–4–1
Apr. 21	Louisiana		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 8–7	Baker (2–1)	Schorman (12–6)	None	ESPN+	462	30–13–1	11–4–1
Apr. 22	Louisiana		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	L 2–9	Schorman (13–6)	Johnson (22–6)	None	ESPN+	698	30–14–1	11–5–1
Apr. 23	Louisiana		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	L 1–6	Landry (13–4)	Baker (2-2)	None	ESPN+	429	30–15–1	11–6–1
Apr. 28	Georgia Southern		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 3–0	Johnson (23–6)	Barnard (1–8)	None	ESPN+	431	31–15–1	12–6–1
Apr. 29	Georgia Southern		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 11–3	Pittman (1-1)	Belogorska (1–2)	None	ESPN+	245	32–15–1	13–6–1
Apr. 30	Georgia Southern		Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL	W 8–0	Johnson (24–6)	Barnard (1–9)	None	ESPN+	673	33–15–1	14–6–1

May (0–3)
Date	Opponent	Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	SBC record
May 4	at South Alabama		Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL	L 1–6	Lackie (20–6)	Johnson (24–7)	None	ESPN+	444	33–16–1	14–7–1
May 6	at South Alabama		Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL	L 0–6	Hardy (16–7)	Baker (2–3)	None	ESPN+	503	33–17–1	14–8–1
May 6	at South Alabama		Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL	L 6–7	Hardy (17–7)	Johnson (24–8)	None	ESPN+	503	33–18–1	14–9–1

Post-Season (0–1)

SBC tournament (0–1)
Date	Opponent	(Seed)/Rank	Site/stadium	Score	Win	Loss	Save	TV	Attendance	Overall record	Tournament record
May 11	vs. (5) Texas State	(4)	Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park • Lafayette, LA	L 0–3	Mullins (21–10)	Johnson (24–9)	None	ESPN+		33–19–1	0–1

Schedule Source:^[4]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

References

^ "2023 Softball Standings". SunBeltSports.org. Sun Belt Conference. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
^ Boutwell, Josh (March 14, 2022). "Beth Mullins resigns as Troy softball coach". The Troy Messenger. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
^ "Louisiana Tops Sun Belt Softball Preseason Coaches Poll". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
^ "2023 Softball Schedule". Troy University Athletics. Retrieved March 27, 2024.

[1] "2023 Softball Standings". SunBeltSports.org. Sun Belt Conference. Retrieved May 28, 2023.

[2] Boutwell, Josh (March 14, 2022). "Beth Mullins resigns as Troy softball coach". The Troy Messenger. Retrieved March 27, 2024.

[3] "Louisiana Tops Sun Belt Softball Preseason Coaches Poll". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved April 8, 2023.

[4] "2023 Softball Schedule". Troy University Athletics. Retrieved March 27, 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Troy Trojans softball
Venues	Lady Trojan Softball Field (1994–2001) Troy Softball Complex (2002– )
Coaches	Melanie Davis (1994–2014) Beth Mullins (2015–2022) Eric Newell (2023– )
Seasons	1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2024 2025
Women's College World Series appearances in italics