Trojans Outlast FIU in 13-12 Slugfest

Friday, March 7

Troy, Ala.

6:00 PM

Troy University

Florida International

3/7/2008 6:00:00 AM | Baseball

TROY, Ala.- Senior Bryan Miller's bases clearing double in the seventh inning capped off a five-run inning to lift the Trojans past Florida International in a 13-12 shoot-out, Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field.

“This was a crazy game in all aspects,” coach Bobby Pierce said. “I think everything that could possibly happen, did. I was very proud of our guys and how they responded to what FIU did. We got down several times but we kept coming back and kept fighting.”

Corey Lozano led off the game with walk on five pitches. Ryan Mollica followed that with a double and Lozano scored on an RBI single by Raimy Fuentes. Jorge Castillo hit a sacrifice fly to score Fuentes. Mollica scored on a passed ball by Brooks for the early 3-0 advantage.

Junior Trevor Tyre belted his second homerun of the season in the bottom of the third inning closing the gap to 3-1.

Lance Miller hit a ball that trickled down the third base line allowing him to reach base to start the fourth inning. Michael Precise tied the game with one swing of the bat. Precise cranked a ball over the wall in left center knotting the game at 3-3.

The Trojans would take their first lead at 4-3 in that same inning when Bart Pettus tripled to center field and scored on an RBI groundout by Adam Bryant.

FIU answered with three runs on the top of the fifth inning on two hits and one Trojan error to retake the lead, 6-4.

Junior Beau Brooks drew a lead-off walk to start the home half of the fifth inning and then stole second and third and scored on an error off the bat of Daryl Otwell. Troy scored four runs in the inning on only one hit. FIU committed four errors in the inning giving Troy the 8-6 lead.

Troy plated five more runs in the seventh inning. Three runs came on the double by Miller. Brooks and Otwell each singled and drove in a run in the inning.

After walking the lead-off batter in the top of the fifth inning, senior Ryan Ellison left the game with the lead but like his previous starts, he didn't not factor in the decision. He threw four complete innings giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits. He walked four and struck out three in his outing.

“Ryan didn't have his best stuff early tonight but he still threw ok,” Pierce said. “The way they hit the ball tonight they forced us to go to our bullpen earlier than we had wanted to and we had to keep going back to it because they were hitting everything.”

A.J. Howard (3-0) gave up three runs in his seventh appearance of the season on four hits. Closer Josh Storm (4) struck out three batters in an inning and a third to get the save.

Troy was led at the plate by Miller with three hits and three RBI. Lance Miller also had three hits. Precise and Otwell each chipped in two RBI.

The Trojans will return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon to face FIU in the second game of the series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.