Troy University Athletics
Saturday, March 28
New Orleans, La.
2:00 PM
Troy University
10
at
13
New Orleans
Trojans Split Pair With UNO
3/28/2009 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
NEW ORLEANS, La. ? Baseball is a funny game, and Saturday's doubleheader between the Troy Trojans and UNO Privateers was a perfect example of that fact.
The Trojans jumped out to a big early lead in the opening game, scoring five runs in the first three innings, only to see UNO rally to take a 13-10 victory.
In the nightcap, it was the Privateers who jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, only to see the Trojans battle back late, scoring single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to force extra play before winning 8-7 in 11 innings.
The two teams will play the rubber game of their weekend series on Sunday at Maestri Field, with the first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
“It was a long, tough, day at the ball park,” Troy coach Bobby Pierce said after more than seven hours of baseball. “There are a lot of things that are difficult for us right now, but I am proud of our team hanging in there and fighting back to win that second game.”
With the split, the Trojans are now 14-10 overall on the year and 3-5 in the Sun Belt. UNO now stands at 9-15 overall and 4-7 in league play.
Following are recaps of Saturday's two games.
Game 1: UNO 13, Troy 10
The Trojans dropped the first game after jumping out to a commanding early lead. Troy chsed UNO starter Jake Henderson in the first inning by scoring five quick runs. A two-run homer by Daryl Otwell was the big blow, and chased Henderson from the game.
But UNO was not bothered by the big early deficit, scoring two runs in the first and three more in the second off Troy starter Jason Walls. The big blow for UNO was a two-run double by Jay Morris in the second to knot the score.
“We got the early lead, but Jason didn't have great stuff on the mound and they were able to come right back,” Pierce said. “As it turned out, we may should have stayed with him a little longer.”
With both starters out of the game early, it became a bullpen battle. Troy struck first, scoring four runs in the third off Ricky Ott to regain a 9-5 lead. Chad Watson had a three-run triple to key that frame, but UNO came right back with a pair in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer from Alan Harris off Tim Wheeler (2-1).
The teams both scored once in the fifth, Troy on a double by Bart Pettus and UNO on a homer by Nick Schwaner, but the Privateers broke through in a big way in the sixth.
UNO scored five times in that inning, all off Wheeler, by having the first seven hitters of the inning reach base on either a hit or walk. Chris Sorce finally came on to get a pair of strikeouts to end the inning, but the damage was done.
Troy managed just three hits over the final four innings off UNO relievers Randy Verdin (1-1) and David Burch, who recorded his second save.
Game 2: Troy 8, UNO 7 (11 innings)
In the nightcap, the Trojans rallied from behind, but not without some controversy preventing Troy from winning in regulation.
UNO jumped out quickly on Troy starter Tyler Ray, scoring three runs in the first inning, two of which came on Schwaner's second homer of the day. An unearned run in the third pushed UNO's lead to 4-0, which appeared to be enough for Privateers freshman pitcher Joe Zimmerman.
The Trojans, however, finally got on the board with a solo homer from Michael Precise in the fourth inning. Troy scored three more in the fifth with two more long shots, a two-run bomb from Charley Williams and a solo homer from Pettus, to tie the score at 4-4.
UNO added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, one on a Tyler Samford homer and the other on a run-scoring single by Harris, to end the day for Ray, who allowed five earned runs in six innings of work.
Troy answered in the sixth, scoring once on a sacrifice fly by Williams, but UNO regained the lead in the seventh off Troy reliever Jeff Green (3-1), scoring once without getting a hit. A pair of walks and a pair of wild pitches cost Troy the lead.
UNO turned to freshman Donnie White in the eighth inning, and Troy got back within one. With one out, Troy leaded the bases on singles by Steven Felix and Williams and a walk to Chad Watson. Miles Hoyle then drew a bases loaded walk to force home Felix to get Troy within on at 7-6.
With the bases still loaded, White struck out Pettus and got Precise to ground out, leaving the Trojans still down a run.
In the ninth, Troy had a chance to not only tie the game, but have a big inning, but a strange play cut short the Trojans chances. Brett Henry reached on a one-out single and then Shohei Fujita, pinch-running, was safe at second on a ground ball to third by Trevor Tyre.
After a wild pitch and an intentional walk to Felix loaded the bases, Chad Watson drew a walk to force in Fujita with the tying run. Williams followed with a hot smash that was destined for right field, but deflected off the glove of UNO second baseman Justin Edwards on the way. First base umpire Mike Fagan, positioned behind the play, called the play dead, ruling the ball hit Watson, costing the Trojans two runs.
After a long argument from both Pierce and assistant coach Mark Smartt proved fruitless, Miles Hoyle flied out to center to end the inning.
“The ball did not hit Watson on that play,” Pierce said. “I don't think the team realized right away that the runners had to go back on that play, but I am encouraged by the fact that they kept going after that and were able to win the game.”
Green was dominant on the mound for Troy, holding the Privateers hitless for four innings while striking out six to give his teammates a chance to battle from behind.
That is just what Troy did in the 11th inning off sophomore left-hander Mats Mattson (1-1). After Mattson struck out the first two hitters in the inning, Felix singled and moved to second on a balk. Watson followed with an RBI single, giving Troy its first lead of the game, 8-7.
Senior Josh Storm came on in the bottom of the inning, pitching around a two-out double, to record his fourth save of the year.
For Troy on the day, Ryan Ditthardt have five hits, Pettus and Precise had four each and Felix and Williams had three each.
The Trojans jumped out to a big early lead in the opening game, scoring five runs in the first three innings, only to see UNO rally to take a 13-10 victory.
In the nightcap, it was the Privateers who jumped out to a 4-0 lead early, only to see the Trojans battle back late, scoring single runs in the eighth and ninth innings to force extra play before winning 8-7 in 11 innings.
The two teams will play the rubber game of their weekend series on Sunday at Maestri Field, with the first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
“It was a long, tough, day at the ball park,” Troy coach Bobby Pierce said after more than seven hours of baseball. “There are a lot of things that are difficult for us right now, but I am proud of our team hanging in there and fighting back to win that second game.”
With the split, the Trojans are now 14-10 overall on the year and 3-5 in the Sun Belt. UNO now stands at 9-15 overall and 4-7 in league play.
Following are recaps of Saturday's two games.
Game 1: UNO 13, Troy 10
The Trojans dropped the first game after jumping out to a commanding early lead. Troy chsed UNO starter Jake Henderson in the first inning by scoring five quick runs. A two-run homer by Daryl Otwell was the big blow, and chased Henderson from the game.
But UNO was not bothered by the big early deficit, scoring two runs in the first and three more in the second off Troy starter Jason Walls. The big blow for UNO was a two-run double by Jay Morris in the second to knot the score.
“We got the early lead, but Jason didn't have great stuff on the mound and they were able to come right back,” Pierce said. “As it turned out, we may should have stayed with him a little longer.”
With both starters out of the game early, it became a bullpen battle. Troy struck first, scoring four runs in the third off Ricky Ott to regain a 9-5 lead. Chad Watson had a three-run triple to key that frame, but UNO came right back with a pair in the bottom of the inning on a two-run homer from Alan Harris off Tim Wheeler (2-1).
The teams both scored once in the fifth, Troy on a double by Bart Pettus and UNO on a homer by Nick Schwaner, but the Privateers broke through in a big way in the sixth.
UNO scored five times in that inning, all off Wheeler, by having the first seven hitters of the inning reach base on either a hit or walk. Chris Sorce finally came on to get a pair of strikeouts to end the inning, but the damage was done.
Troy managed just three hits over the final four innings off UNO relievers Randy Verdin (1-1) and David Burch, who recorded his second save.
Game 2: Troy 8, UNO 7 (11 innings)
In the nightcap, the Trojans rallied from behind, but not without some controversy preventing Troy from winning in regulation.
UNO jumped out quickly on Troy starter Tyler Ray, scoring three runs in the first inning, two of which came on Schwaner's second homer of the day. An unearned run in the third pushed UNO's lead to 4-0, which appeared to be enough for Privateers freshman pitcher Joe Zimmerman.
The Trojans, however, finally got on the board with a solo homer from Michael Precise in the fourth inning. Troy scored three more in the fifth with two more long shots, a two-run bomb from Charley Williams and a solo homer from Pettus, to tie the score at 4-4.
UNO added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, one on a Tyler Samford homer and the other on a run-scoring single by Harris, to end the day for Ray, who allowed five earned runs in six innings of work.
Troy answered in the sixth, scoring once on a sacrifice fly by Williams, but UNO regained the lead in the seventh off Troy reliever Jeff Green (3-1), scoring once without getting a hit. A pair of walks and a pair of wild pitches cost Troy the lead.
UNO turned to freshman Donnie White in the eighth inning, and Troy got back within one. With one out, Troy leaded the bases on singles by Steven Felix and Williams and a walk to Chad Watson. Miles Hoyle then drew a bases loaded walk to force home Felix to get Troy within on at 7-6.
With the bases still loaded, White struck out Pettus and got Precise to ground out, leaving the Trojans still down a run.
In the ninth, Troy had a chance to not only tie the game, but have a big inning, but a strange play cut short the Trojans chances. Brett Henry reached on a one-out single and then Shohei Fujita, pinch-running, was safe at second on a ground ball to third by Trevor Tyre.
After a wild pitch and an intentional walk to Felix loaded the bases, Chad Watson drew a walk to force in Fujita with the tying run. Williams followed with a hot smash that was destined for right field, but deflected off the glove of UNO second baseman Justin Edwards on the way. First base umpire Mike Fagan, positioned behind the play, called the play dead, ruling the ball hit Watson, costing the Trojans two runs.
After a long argument from both Pierce and assistant coach Mark Smartt proved fruitless, Miles Hoyle flied out to center to end the inning.
“The ball did not hit Watson on that play,” Pierce said. “I don't think the team realized right away that the runners had to go back on that play, but I am encouraged by the fact that they kept going after that and were able to win the game.”
Green was dominant on the mound for Troy, holding the Privateers hitless for four innings while striking out six to give his teammates a chance to battle from behind.
That is just what Troy did in the 11th inning off sophomore left-hander Mats Mattson (1-1). After Mattson struck out the first two hitters in the inning, Felix singled and moved to second on a balk. Watson followed with an RBI single, giving Troy its first lead of the game, 8-7.
Senior Josh Storm came on in the bottom of the inning, pitching around a two-out double, to record his fourth save of the year.
For Troy on the day, Ryan Ditthardt have five hits, Pettus and Precise had four each and Felix and Williams had three each.
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