Birmingham, Ala. • Striplin Field(1,000)
Five wins last week, including a three-game Sun Belt Conference sweep at Arkansas State, helped the Troy Trojans move up to 25th in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll. The Trojans will try to continue their climb up the polls tonight when they travel to face the Panthers of Birmingham-Southern.
Despite winning 21 of their last 22 games, and reaching the top 15 in the national RPI rankings, Troy is still not worthy of being ranked by the three of the four major national baseball polls -- Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America and ABCA/USA Today.
Even though the national polls fail to recognize the Trojans, the national statistics do not. The Trojans are ranked in the top 10 nationally in 11 major offensive categories and two pitching categories.
Offensively, Troy is first in at bats (1621) and hits (552); is second in doubles (114) to James Madison (115), second in RBI (367) to Dallas Baptist (371) and second in total bases (859) to JMU (872). The Trojans also rank in the top 10 in on-base percentage (7th, .420), slugging percentage (6th, .530), OPS (5th, .950), batting average (4th, .341) and home runs (6th, 61).
On the pitching side, Troy ranks nationally in wins (7th, 32) and strikeouts (7th, 370).
But, for the Trojans, it is not just the national polls that have shown a lack of respect. Senior Jared Keel had the best offensive week of any player in the Sun Belt Conference last week, but was not chosen Player of the Week. Keel Hit .600 (12-for-20) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI during the week, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games. He also had three game-winning hits during the week, but was overlooked for player of the week in favor of Michael Epping from New Orleans who had one big game during the week, but had a lower batting average and only one extra-base hit.
Another Trojan, junior Mike Felix, has not been recognized by the league all year, despite a 6-2 record and four saves with a 2.85 ERA and 98 strikeouts. He was passed over again this week, despite posting three saves, by P.J. Walters of South Alabama, who did not even record a victory during the week.
The only thing the Trojans can control is the results on the field, and they will go out in search of their seventh straight win tonight against Birmingham-Southern. Since last meeting, BSC has gone 6-5 while the Trojans are 11-1.
Troy is scheduled to send sophomore right-hander Ryan Ellison (1-1, 8.00) to the mound for his first appearance since March 24. He will be opposed by a fellow sophomore right-hander, John Baird (0-3, 5.95), who will be making his first start after 13 relief appearances.
