Hively Helps Troy Stay in Freeway Race

Troy, at risk of falling out of contention in the Freeway League softball race, rose to the occasion and shut out Sonora, 3-0, Thursday.

Troy moved within one game of first place, trailing Sonora and Fullerton with six games remaining.

“It was a huge game for us,” Troy Coach Marion Buttram said. “They [Sonora] are the team to beat. This shows me the league is wide open.”

Warrior pitcher Emily Hively worked her way out of tough spots in each of the first three innings, then got a key hit in a three-run fourth for Troy (12-7, 2-2).

Sonora (14-9, 3-1) had runners on first and second with one out in the first, but Hively struck out Brynn Pittman and got Codi Goetz to ground to second. In the second, the Raiders’ Jeanine Baca led off with a single and stole second with two out, but Hively struck out Danielle Lukk.

With two out and runners on second and third in the third, Hively got Goetz to pop up to second baseman Katie Manzer.

Troy’s Nikki Shepard started the fourth by reaching on catcher’s interference. Hively then drilled an outside pitch from Carrie Wisen down the right-field line and Shepard went to third.

Lisa Jackson doubled over Baca’s head in right field to make it 2-0 and Molly McMasters singled to center, driving in Jackson.

“They’re our biggest rival and one of the better teams in league,” Hively said. “I think [this game] will affect the way we play the rest of the season.”