2021 Troy Trojans softball team explained

Mode:	softball
Year:	2021
Next Year:	2022
Team:	Troy Trojans
Conference:	Sun Belt Conference
Short Conf:	SBC
Record:	37–17
Conf Record:	17–6
Head Coach:	Beth Mullins
Hc Year:	7th
Asst Coach1:	Taylor Smartt
Asst Coach2:	Holly Ward
Stadium:	Troy Softball Complex
Champion:	Tuscaloosa Regionals appearance

The 2021 Troy Trojans softball team represented Troy University during the 2021 NCAA Division I softball season. The Trojans played their home games at Troy Softball Complex. The Trojans were led by seventh-year head coach Beth Mullins and were members of the Sun Belt Conference.

Preseason

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2021. Troy was picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference with 87 votes.^[1]

Coaches poll
1	Louisiana	100 (10)
2	Troy	87
3	Texas State	72
4	Coastal Carolina	68
4	UT Arlington	68
6	Appalachian State	43
7	Georgia Southern	38
8	South Alabama	36
9	Louisiana-Monroe	22
10	Georgia State	16

Preseason All-Sun Belt team

• Summer Ellyson (LA, SR, Pitcher)
• Leanna Johnson (TROY, SO, Pitcher)
• Allisa Dalton (LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base)
• Katie Webb (TROY, SR, Infielder/1st Base)
• Raina O'Neal (LA, JR, Outfielder)
• Julie Raws (LA, SR, Catcher)
• Courney Dean (CCU, SR, Outfielder)
• Mekhia Freeman (GASO, SR, Outfielder)
• Korie Kreps (ULM, JR, Outfielder)
• Kaitlyn Alderink (LA, SR, 2nd Base)
• Jade Gortarez (LA, SR, Shortstop/3rd Base)
• Ciara Bryan (LA, SR, Outfielder)
• Kelly Horne (TROY, SO, Infielder/2nd Base)
• Makiya Thomas (CCU, SR, Outfielder/Infielder)
• Tara Oltmann (TXST, SR, Infielder/Shortstop)
• Jayden Mount (ULM, SR, Infielder)
• Katie Lively (TROY, SO, Outfielder)

National Softball Signing Day

^[2]

Brookelyn Cannon	Pitcher	Hoover, Alabama	Hoover HS
Aayanah Hughes	Infielder	McDonough, Georgia	Union Grove HS
Crystal Maze	Infielder	Trussville, Alabama	Hewitt Trussville HS
Taylor McKinney	Outfielder	Montgomery, Alabama	Macon East Academy
Emma Grace Walker	Outfielder	Kennesaw, Georgia	Harrison HS

Roster

Coaching staff

Schedule and results

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

2021 Troy Trojans softball game log
Regular season (34-13)
February (12-3) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Trojan Classic Feb. 12 W 5-2 Johnson (1-0) Tillman (0-1) None 180 1-0 Feb. 12 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 8-0 Baker (1-0) Kachel (0-1) None 122 2-0 Feb. 13 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 3-1 Johnson (2-0) Clesi (0-1) None 143 3-0 Feb. 14 Belmont Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 8-0 Bailey (1-0) Clesi (0-2) None 129 4-0 Feb. 17 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 1-3 Keeney (3-0) Johnson (2-1) None 65 4-1 Troy Invitational Feb. 19 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 9-1 Blasingame (0-1) Eilers (1-2) None 57 5-1 Feb. 19 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 12-4 Bailey (2-0) Byrd (0-1) Johnson (1) 108 6-1 Feb. 20 Western Carolina Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 4-0 Baker (2-0) Eilers (1-2) None 132 7-1 Feb. 21 Mercer Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 9-1 Johnson (3-1) Donner (1-2) None 167 8-1 Feb. 24 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 3-2 Johnson (4-1) Barnett (1-1) None 87 9-1 Feb. 24 Samford Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 7-1 Johnson (5-1) Robertson (0-1) None 47 10-1 Crimson Tide Classic Feb. 26 W 2-0 Johnson (6-1) George (1-2) None 158 11-1 Feb. 26 vs. North Carolina Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 2-8 Pickett (4-0) Baker (2-1) None 123 11-2 Feb. 27 Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL W 6-2 Johnson (7-1) Siems (0-2) None 211 12-2 Feb. 27 vs. Memphis Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL W 6-1 Baker (3-1) Ellett (0-4) None 103 13-2 Feb. 28 Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 0-2 Kilfoyl (6-0) Johnson (7-2) None 1,121 13-3
March (9-3) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Tiger Invitational Mar. 4 RV L 1-8 Lowe (3-0) Bailey (2-1) None 370 13-4 Mar. 5 RV Jane B. Moore Field • Auburn, AL W 9-6 Johnson (8-2) Comeaux (1-3) None 370 14-4 Mar. 5 vs. Southeastern Louisiana RV Jane B. Moore Field • Auburn, AL W 9-6 Blasingame (2-0) Zumo (6-2) None 370 15-4 Mar. 6 RV Jane B. Moore Field • Auburn, AL W 5-4 Blasingame (3-0) Pierce (2-3) None 370 16-4 Mar. 6 vs. Southern Miss RV Jane B. Moore Field • Auburn, AL L 3-4 Pierce (3-2) Baker (3-2) None 370 16-5 Mar. 10 No. 21 Auburn Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 0-3 Lowe (6-0) Johnson (8-3) None 250 116-6 Mar. 13 W 5-0 Johnson (9-3) Bumpurs (1-5) None 156 17-6 1-0 Mar. 13 at UT Arlington Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX W 4-1 Baker (4-1) Hines (1-6) None 156 18-6 2-0 Mar. 14 at UT Arlington Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX W 10-2 (6 inns) Johnson (10-3) Valencia (0-1) None 156 19-6 3-0 Mar. 19 W 12-0 (5 inns) Johnson (11-3) Mooney (4-4) None 253 20-6 4-0 Mar. 20 at Georgia State Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 11-6 Blasingame (4-0) Banks (2-2) None 255 21-6 5-0 Mar. 21 at Georgia State Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA W 7-1 Johnson (12-3) Buck (3-2) None 243 22-6 6-0 Lady Vol Challenge Mar. 27 Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville Mar. 27 Sherri Parker Lee Stadium • Knoxville, TN Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville Mar. 28 vs. Furman Sherri Parker Lee Stadium • Knoxville, TN Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville Mar. 28 at No. 21 Tennessee Sherri Parker Lee Stadium • Knoxville, TN Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville Mar. 31 at UAB Game Postponed
April (10–5) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record Apr. 2 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 5-0 Johnson (13-3) Richardson (2-4) None 150 23-6 7-0 Apr. 2 Georgia Southern Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 4-0 Brianna (3-1) Waldrep (2-4) None 114 24-6 8-0 Apr. 3 Georgia Southern Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 9-0 Johnson (13-3) Feil (0-5) None 134 25-6 9-0 Apr. 6 RV Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL Game Postponed Apr. 7 RV Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 3-0 Johnson (15-3) Lackie (11-6) None 212 26-6 10-0 Apr. 9 RV Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 2-5 Ellyson (12-4) Johnson (15-4) None 192 26-7 10-1 Apr. 10 No. 14 Louisiana RV Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 7-8 Lamb (14-2) Bailey (3-2) Ellyson (2) 135 26-8 10-2 Apr. 11 No. 14 Louisiana RV Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 2-10 (6 inns) Ellyson (13-4) Baker (4-3) None 81 26-9 10-3 Apr. 14 at UAB RV Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL Game postponed due to threat of inclement weather in Birmingham Apr. 17 RV W 13-2 (5 inns) Johnson (16-4) Coons (3-4) None 98 27-9 11-3 Apr. 17 at Louisiana–Monroe RV Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 10-6 Johnson (16-4) Hulett (4-5) None 98 28-9 12-3 Apr. 18 at Louisiana–Monroe RV Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA W 5-2 Baker (5-3) Chavarria (1-7) None 73 29-9 13-3 Apr. 21 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 2-4 Neleman (8-6) Johnson (17-5) None 113 29-10 Apr. 21 Georgia Tech Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 9-5 Blasingame (5-0) Bruce (1-6) Baker (1) 104 30-10 Apr. 25 W 3-2 Johnson (18-5) Longanecker (12-5) None 50 31-10 14-3 Apr. 25 at Appalachian State Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC W 8-6 Baker (6-3) Buckner (4-3) Johnson (2) 50 32-10 15-3 Apr. 30 Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 3-4 Mullins (17-6) Johnson (18-6) None 134 32-11 15-4
May (2-2) Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 1 RV Texas State Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 0-3 King (9-2) Baker (6-4) None 132 32-12 15-5 May 2 RV Texas State Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 6-4 Baker (7-4) King (9-3) None 121 33-12 16-5 May 7 at South Alabama W 1-0 Johnson (19-6) Lackie (15-9) None 200 34-12 17-5 May 8 at South Alabama Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL L 6-7 Lackie (16-9) Johnson (19-7) None 200 34-13 17-6
Post-season (3-4)
(2-2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record May 12 vs. (6) UT Arlington (3) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 1-2 Hines (6-11) Baker (7-5) Gardiner (5) 516 34-14 May 13 vs. (9) Louisiana–Monroe (3) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 5-1 Johnson (20-7) Hulett (6-11) None 603 35-14 May 14 vs. (6) UT Arlington (3) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL W 3-1 Blasingame (6-0) Valencia (4-8) None 621 36-14 May 14 vs. (4) South Alabama (3) Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL L 6-10 Hardy (4-2) Blasingame (6-1) None 432 36-15
NCAA Division I softball tournament (1-2) Date Opponent (Seed)/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record Tuscaloosa Regionals May 21 (3) Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 0-8 (5 inns) Cagle (27-5) Johnson (20-8) None 36-16 0-1 May 22 (3) Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL W 8-0 Johnson (21-8) Sullivan (18-11) None 37-16 1-1 May 22 vs. (2)/No. 13 Clemson (3) Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL L 2-4 Cagle (28-6) Baker (7-6) None 2,987 37-17 1-2

Schedule Source:^[3] *Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

Postseason

Conference accolades

• Player of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA
• Pitcher of the Year: Summer Ellyson – LA
• Freshman of the Year: Sara Vanderford – TXST
• Newcomer of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA
• Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco – LA

All Conference First Team

• Ciara Bryan (LA)
• Summer Ellyson (LA)
• Sara Vanderford (TXST)
• Leanna Johnson (TROY)
• Jessica Mullins (TXST)
• Olivia Lackie (USA)
• Kj Murphy (UTA)
• Katie Webb (TROY)
• Jayden Mount (ULM)
• Kandra Lamb (LA)
• Kendall Talley (LA)
• Meredith Keel (USA)
• Tara Oltmann (TXST)
• Jade Sinness (TROY)
• Katie Lively (TROY)

All Conference Second Team

• Kelly Horne (TROY)
• Meagan King (TXST)
• Mackenzie Brasher (USA)
• Bailee Wilson (GASO)
• Makiya Thomas (CCU)
• Kaitlyn Alderink (LA)
• Abby Krzywiecki (USA)
• Kenzie Longanecker (APP)
• Alissa Dalton (LA)
• Julie Rawls (LA)
• Korie Kreps (ULM)
• Kayla Rosado (CCU)
• Justice Milz (LA)
• Gabby Buruato (APP)
• Arieann Bell (TXST)

References:^[4]

Rankings

See main article: 2021 NCAA Division I softball rankings.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Conference . Sun Belt . Sun Belt Conference Announces Preseason Softball Honors . sunbeltsports.org . 14 February 2021 . en.
2. Web site: Troy Softball Welcomes Five Newcomers on Signing Day . Troy University Athletics . 15 February 2021 . en.
3. Web site: Troy Softball Releases 2021 Schedule . Troy University Athletics . 15 February 2021 . en.
4. Web site: Sun Belt Announces 2021 Softball Postseason All-Conference, Individual Awards . sunbeltsports.org . 5 January 2022 . en.