# 2021 Troy Trojans softball team

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.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 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

| Player | Position | Hometown | Previous Team |
| 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 |

## 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| Trojan Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 12 | Ole Miss | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 5-2 | Johnson (1-0) | Tillman (0-1) | None | | 180 | 1-0 |
| Feb. 12 | UAB | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 8-0 | Baker (1-0) | Kachel (0-1) | None | | 122 | 2-0 |
| Feb. 13 | Belmont | 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 | RV Liberty | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 1-3 | Keeney (3-0) | Johnson (2-1) | None | | 65 | 4-1 |
| Troy Invitational ||||||||||||
| Feb. 19 | Western Carolina | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 9-1 | Blasingame (0-1) | Eilers (1-2) | None | | 57 | 5-1 |
| Feb. 19 | Mercer | 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 | Samford | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 3-2 | Johnson (4-1) | Barnett (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 87 | 9-1 |
| Feb. 24 | Samford | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 7-1 | Johnson (5-1) | Robertson (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 47 | 10-1 |
| Crimson Tide Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 26 | vs. North Carolina | Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | 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 | vs. Memphis | 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 | at No. 4 Alabama | 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 | at No. 24 Auburn | RV | Jane B. Moore Field • Auburn, AL | L 1-8 | Lowe (3-0) | Bailey (2-1) | None | | 370 | 13-4 | |
| Mar. 5 | vs. Southeastern Louisiana | 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 | vs. Southern Miss | 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 | ESPN+ | 250 | 116-6 | |
| Mar. 13 | at UT Arlington | | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | 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 | at Georgia State | | Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Decatur, GA | 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 | vs. Furman | | Sherri Parker Lee Stadium • Knoxville, TN | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville |
| Mar. 27 | at No. 21 Tennessee | | Sherri Parker Lee Stadium • Knoxville, TN | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville |
| Mar. 28 | vs. Furman | | Sherri Parker Lee Stadium • Knoxville, TN | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | 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 | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville | Cancelled due to inclement weather in Knoxville |
| Mar. 31 | at UAB | | Mary Bowers Field • Birmingham, AL | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed |
April (10–5) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Apr. 2 | Georgia Southern | | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 5-0 | Johnson (13-3) | Richardson (2-4) | None | ESPN+ | 150 | 23-6 | 7-0 |
| Apr. 2 | Georgia Southern | | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 4-0 | Brianna (3-1) | Waldrep (2-4) | None | ESPN+ | 114 | 24-6 | 8-0 |
| Apr. 3 | Georgia Southern | | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 9-0 | Johnson (13-3) | Feil (0-5) | None | ESPN+ | 134 | 25-6 | 9-0 |
| Apr. 6 | Alabama State | RV | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed |
| Apr. 7 | South Alabama | RV | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 3-0 | Johnson (15-3) | Lackie (11-6) | None | ESPN+ | 212 | 26-6 | 10-0 |
| Apr. 9 | No. 14 Louisiana | RV | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 2-5 | Ellyson (12-4) | Johnson (15-4) | None | ESPN+ | 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) | ESPN+ | 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 | ESPN+ | 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 | Game postponed due to threat of inclement weather in Birmingham | Game postponed due to threat of inclement weather in Birmingham | Game postponed due to threat of inclement weather in Birmingham | Game postponed due to threat of inclement weather in Birmingham | Game postponed due to threat of inclement weather in Birmingham | Game postponed due to threat of inclement weather in Birmingham | Game postponed due to threat of inclement weather in Birmingham |
| Apr. 17 | at Louisiana–Monroe | RV | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | 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 | Georgia Tech | | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 2-4 | Neleman (8-6) | Johnson (17-5) | None | ESPN+ | 113 | 29-10 | |
| Apr. 21 | Georgia Tech | | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 9-5 | Blasingame (5-0) | Bruce (1-6) | Baker (1) | ESPN+ | 104 | 30-10 | |
| Apr. 25 | at Appalachian State | | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | 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 | RV Texas State | | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 3-4 | Mullins (17-6) | Johnson (18-6) | None | ESPN+ | 134 | 32-11 | 15-4 |
May (2-2) :
| Date | Opponent | 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 | ESPN+ | 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 | ESPN+ | 121 | 33-12 | 16-5 |
| May 7 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | 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) :
SBC Tournament (2-2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| May 12 | vs. (6) UT Arlington | (3) | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 1-2 | Hines (6-11) | Baker (7-5) | Gardiner (5) | ESPN+ | 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 | ESPN+ | 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 | ESPN+ | 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 | ESPN+ | 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 | vs. (2)/No. 13 Clemson | (3) | Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | L 0-8 (5 inns) | Cagle (27-5) | Johnson (20-8) | None | ESPN3 | | 36-16 | 0-1 |
| May 22 | vs. (4) Alabama State | (3) | Rhoads Stadium • Tuscaloosa, AL | W 8-0 | Johnson (21-8) | Sullivan (18-11) | None | ESPN3 | | 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 | ESPN3 | 2,987 | 37-17 | 1-2 |
    Schedule Source:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

## Tuscaloosa Regional

Tuscaloosa Regional Teams :
| (1) Alabama Crimson Tide | (2) Clemson Tigers | (3) Troy Trojans | (4) Alabama State Lady Hornets |
| First Round | First Round | First Round | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Semi-Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 3 | Alabama | 9 | | | | | |
| | Alabama State | 0 | | | | | |
| | Alabama State | 0 | 3 | Alabama | 6 | | |
| | | | | Clemson | 0 | | |
| Troy | Troy | 0 | | Clemson | 0 | | |
| Clemson | Clemson | 8 | | | | | |
| Clemson | Clemson | 8 | | | | 3 | Alabama |
| | | | | | | | Clemson |
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower round 1 | Lower final | Lower final | Lower final | | Clemson |
| | | | Troy | Troy | 2 | | |
| Alabama State | Alabama State | 0 | Clemson | Clemson | 4 | | |
| Troy | Troy | 8 | | | | | |

## 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
References:

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| NFCA / USA Today | — | — | — | RV | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | — | — | — | — | | | |
| Softball America | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | |
| ESPN.com/USA Softball | — | — | — | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | |
| D1Softball | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | |