Victory Puts Title in Reach for Troy

Lindsey Knoff, a senior pitcher at Troy in pursuit of her first Freeway League championship, took a giant step toward that goal Thursday with one giant swing from teammate Sophia Reynolds.

Reynolds belted an opposite-field, three-run home run in the top of the 14th inning and Knoff pitched an eight-hitter to give Troy a 4-1 victory over Sonora, the defending league softball champion.

Reynolds’ bat and Knoff’s right arm created a three-way tie for first place with two games remaining. Troy (18-6), Sonora (20-7) and Sunny Hills (13-9) are 6-2 in league play. Sonora, which lost to Sunny Hills, 4-3, in the first round of league games, plays host to the Lancers on Thursday.

“It’s all about league for us,” said Knoff (12-4), who allowed one hit through the first six innings.

Reynolds put Troy in position for its first league title since 1980 after Elaine Kennedy singled and Lisa Jackson walked in the 14th. The cleanup hitter homered on an 0-2 pitch.

“To do it in my last game against Sonora--it means a lot,” Reynolds said.

Knoff survived five errors behind her. Carrie Wisen (8-3) pitched 11 innings of relief for Sonora, giving up five of Troy’s seven hits.

Troy tied the score in the seventh inning by scoring on one of Sonora’s five errors, and got a game-saving defensive play from Jackson in the 10th inning, when she caught a line drive with a player on first base.

“I’m sure it saved us a run,” Knoff said.