Troy University Athletics
Brooks Bomb Lifts Trojans to 5-4 Win in 16 Innings
4/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala.- Troy University sophomore catcher Beau Brooks had endured a long night behind the plate. By the 16th inning, he had finally had enough and launched a two-out, two-strike solo homer to lift the Trojans to a 5-4 victory over visiting Auburn in front of a Riddle-Pace Field record crowd of 2,395.
Brooks was hitless in six at bats before his game-winner and took a full-speed collision at the plate from Auburn's All-American Mike Bianucci in the 15th inning to prevent the Tigers (27-17) from taking the lead. Bianucci was ejected from the game on the play.
This was a great baseball game,” head coach Bobby Pierce said. This is a big win for our team against a good team in Auburn and now we can go into the weekend on a roll.
"That is the kind of hitting we expect to see from Beau all the time. I am just glad that his dad was here to see him hit the walk-off homer."
Senior Edgar Ramirez put on a big performance, going 5-for-7 at the plate with two home runs, two doubles, a single, and four runs driven in.
The Trojan pitchers struck out 24 Tiger batters, setting a new single-game school record. The previous number was 17 strike outs against Kansas State back in 2003 in an 8-7 win in that took 18 innings and against Huntington College in 1961.
Troy improved to 26-16 with its seventh consecutive victory. The win over Auburn gives Troy wins over both the Tigers and Alabama in the same season for a second straight year.
Jonathan Sabat (1-1) got the win on the mound for the Trojans throwing one inning and striking out one batter. Justin Bristow (1-6) took the loss for the Tigers as he gave up the home run to Brooks.
Auburn put together three hits in the top of the 10th inning to take a 4-3 lead. Eric Skinner led off with a single and scored on a single from Bruce Edwards.
Ramirez tied the game in the bottom half of the 10th inning with a solo shot to left.
Mike Bianucci blasted his 13th home run of the season in the top of the second inning to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.
Troy got on the board in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run from Ramirez. Senior Kevin Weidlich walked to begin the inning and scored on Ramirez's seventh bomb of the year. Freshman Shohei Fujita singled and was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Ross Smith, trying to score on a single by senior Ian Craze.
The Tigers plated two runs on the sixth inning as Luke Grienke singled followed by an intentional walk to Bianucci. Grienke scored on a single by Joesph Sanders. Following a strike out to Robert Brooks, Bianucci broke for home on the throw to first by freshman Beau Brooks giving Auburn the 3-2 lead.
Troy tied the game at three in the bottom of the seventh junior Bryan Miller singled and scored on an RBI double from Ramirez.
Freshman Tim Wheeler got the start on the mound for Troy but did not factor in the decision going six innings giving up five hits. He allowed three runs while striking out eight Tiger batters. Junior Ryan Ellison pitched three innings of relief giving up one run on three hits while striking out seven. Senior Josh Dew pitched three innings allowing two hits and striking out seven.
Freshman Austin Hubbard started for the Tigers going five innings giving up two runs off of five Trojan hits. Bryan Woodall came on in the seventh and gave up the lead for Auburn as he gave up one run on two hits.
Troy will be back in action this weekend as the Trojans host Louisiana-Monroe in Sun Belt conference action. ULM is a game up on Troy in the chase for the Sun Belt Championship. First pitch Friday night is set for 6 p.m. at Riddle-Pace Field.
