Troy University Athletics
Late Inning Fireworks Power Razorbacks Past Troy 13-1
2/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. -- Arkansas scored 12 runs over the final two innings Friday night to blow open what had been a pitchers' battle for seven innings, spoiling the Trojans' season debut with a 13-1 decision over Troy.
The Razorbacks (3-1, 0-0), sent 23 batters to the plate in the eighth and ninth innings. The Razorbacks exploded against the Trojans in the eighth when Sean Jones hit a Tim Wheeler pitch over the right field fence. Ben Tschepikow was hit by the next pitch then Casey Coon belted a fastball just over the fence in center.
Thats when the wheels fell off for the Trojans. The Trojan pitching staff couldn't find the strike zone for the rest of the night. Four walks in the eighth and seven hits in the ninth put the game out of reach as the Razorbacks put up 12 runs in the last two innings.
The Trojans (0-1, 0-0) battled punch for punch with Arkansas with Clegg Snipes pitching a game that kept the Trojans in the hunt.
"Clegg pitched a great game tonight," head coach Bobby Pierce said. "He did everything he could to keep us in it and the hits just didn't fall early."
Snipes pitched 5.2 innings giving up four hits while striking out seven. Wheeler (0-1) came in and gave up two home runs that put the Razorbacks up and the Trojans never recovered.
Senior Ian Craze and sophomore Brett Henry were the bright spot for the Trojans. Craze and Henry accounted for six of the Troy's seven hits. Craze went 4-for-5, while Henry in his first career start was 2-for-3.
"We have to give Arkansas a lot of credit," Pierce said. "They hit the ball and scored runs but the series is still in our reach, we have to play better and keep fighting."
Nick Schmidt kept the Trojans at bay for much of the game allowing three hits over six innings while striking out six.
Chris Rhoads (2-0) came in for Schmidt in the seventh and gave up two hits to get the win. When Rhoads came into the game, the Arkansas bats came alive starting the late inning fireworks. Tschepikow and catcher Brian Walker both went 3-for-4 at the plate. Coon had a hot bat going 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI's.
The loss for the Trojans is their first opening day loss since 2002 and the first opening day home loss since 2001 when they were beaten by Nicholls State.
The Trojans will be back in action on Saturday when the face the Razorbacks in game 2 of the series.
First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
