Troy University Athletics
Trojans Host Arkansas State in Weekend Series
4/6/2008 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala.- The Troy Trojans have lost five of their last six games and will look to get back on the winning track as they play host to Arkansas State in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series beginning Friday night at beautiful Riddle-Pace Field.
"We are at the point in the season where we need to start making things happen," head coach Bobby Pierce said. "We have lost a few games recently that would have helped us in the end but they are in the past and we have to move on and be prepared for the task that is in front of us."
That task is Arkansas State.
Since joining the Sun Belt Conference in 2006, Troy has never lost to ASU. Last season, the Trojans rode the strong arms of Clegg Snipes and Josh Dew. Snipes set the tone for the weekend with a 7-0 shut-out of the Indians.
Troy will send sophomore Tim Wheeler (1-4, 5.01 ERA) to the hill Friday looking to again set the tone for the weekend. Junior lefty Travis Burge (4-3, 4.54 ERA) will toe the rubber on Saturday night in the second game of the series. Sunday will see senior Ryan Ellison (0-1, 6.67 ERA) on the mound to close out the series for Troy.
Several Trojan hitters have caught fire of late. Senior Bryan Miller leads the club in batting average at .331. He also leads the country in doubles with 14. Freshman Daryl Otwell has hit his first two home runs of his career in the last three games. Beau Brooks and Charley Williams have each hit the long ball in recent games.
Troy and ASU will square-off Friday night with the first pitch slated for 6 pm. The game can be heard locally on 94.7 WTBF or on Troytrojans.com. Barry Mcknight, the "Voice" of the Trojans, will handle the play-by-play with Jerry Miller providing the color. Live Web Streaming will also be available at Troytrojans.com
