Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Sewell-Thomas Stadium (6,118)
After facing one of the best pitching staffs in college baseball last weekend at Southern Miss, the Trojans will have the unenviable task of facing one of the few teams in the nation that may be able to challenge USM for pitching supremacy.
Alabama comes into the first meeting between the Trojans and Crimson Tide since 1999 boasting of a team ERA of 2.58 for the season. The Tide has surrendered more than six runs in a game just one time this season, and that was in their opener. Since then Alabama has posted three shutouts and has held its opponents to two or fewer runs nine times.
For the Trojans, who were held to just four runs in three games in getting swept at Southern Miss, the task will be simple: play solid defense, pitch well and take advantage of any scoring opportunities.
While Alabama is tough on the mound, the Tide is hitting just .256 on the year and has had trouble scoring runs to support its outstanding pitching. In a recent three-game series at Nebraska, Alabama scored just four runs in getting swept.
The job of keeping the Alabama bats on ice goes to senior left-hander Jon Gianquitti (2-0, 2.93), who was sparkling last week against Georgia Southern, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out 11.
Alabama will counter with freshman left-hander Miers Quigley (1-1, 2.04), who worked seven strong innings against Southern Miss last week, allowing just two earned runs on four hits.
The Trojans will need production from the top of the batting order, including junior Tom King, who enters the game with a 15-game hitting streak. Troy will also be bolstered by the return of junior Ben Woods, who missed the series at Southern Miss because of the birth of his first child. Troy is 10-0 this season when Woods has been in the starting lineup.
The game also marks a first for Trojans coach Bobby Pierce, who will be coaching against his alma mater for the first time. Pierce played at Alabama in 1980-81 and was an assistant coach there from 1990-94.
Following the mid-week game against Alabama, the Trojans will open an eight-game home stand on Friday with the first game of a three-game series against Mississippi Valley State. The second game of the series, on Saturday, will be played in Ozark and will be preceded by a children's camp conducted by the Troy coaches.
