TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — The Troy softball team took the diamond for the first time this Fall for its first fall ball game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

This was the team’s first game back in Trojan Territory since a disappointing loss to the James Madison Dukes in the Sun Belt conference tournament.

Although last season didn’t end how the Trojans wanted it to, head coach Eric Newell is excited about this team and its future moving forward.

“It was nice day one fall scrimmage for sure,” Newell said. “Georgia Tech always plays tough, Spring, Fall, it doesn’t matter. We get after it with one another and it’s always super competitive.

“I think that regardless of level, it’s about control the controllables, and today we fell down kind of early, but we just grinded out at at bats and trusted the process and took care of business. I think there will be a confidence piece but you got to show up everyday and you got to show up every inning.”

Along with seeing hometown favorites back in action, this was an opportunity for Trojan fans to watch incoming Texas Tech transfer Kylie Huffman for the first time, along with Michigan state pitcher Ella Cunningham who closed out the 12-7 win against the Yellow Jackets.

Newell is excited for Cunningham’s future with the team.

“Ella’s got really, really good stuff. I don’t care who you are or where you come from, to go out onto the field, and you got fans and there’s some nerves to go out there in a Fall scrimmage or a countable game in the Spring. Her working through some of those nerves, I thought she did a really great job. We intentionally put her in at the end of that game, and she took care of business.”

The Trojans have seven more fall ball games before the regular season kicks off in February.