2023 Troy Trojans softball team

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
Seasons ←  2022 2024 →

2023 Sun Belt Conference softball standings

v t e	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
Troy  ‍‍‍	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]

Coaches poll
Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
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

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.