Trojans Squeeze Past Samford

Wednesday, March 4

Troy

6:00 PM

Troy University

Samford

3/4/2009 6:00:00 AM | Baseball

TROY ? Troy did just enough to beat the Samford Bulldogs 6-5 on Wednesday night in baseball action at Riddle-Pace Field.

Troy (7-2) stranded 12 base runners, including the bases loaded three times, but got the hits when they needed them. The Trojans pushed across four runs in the second inning in their biggest offensive inning.

“We did some decent things, we got some hits. We left a lot of guys on base, enough to make somebody an All-American. But we did enough to get a win in a tough spot on the night after a big game against Alabama. I'm proud of our guys for finding a way to win this game,” head coach Bobby Pierce.

Samford (3-5) got on the board early with a run in the first inning behind a double from Mason Meredeth. Meredeth's hit to right centerfield plated Michael Johnson who had reached on a walk giving the Bulldogs' a 1-0 lead.

The Trojans exploded for four runs in the home half of the second. Troy used four runs, three walks, a passed ball and a wild pitch to take hold of the lead. Daryl Otwell scored on a wild pitch, but the inning's offensive outburst was highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of first baseman Ryan Ditthardt that scored Adam Bryant and Bart Pettus. Steven Felix added an RBI single that plated Michael Precise putting Troy on top 4-1.

Ditthardt picked up his team-leading 15th RBI and paced the Trojans on the night with three hits. Felix went 2-for-3 as the other Trojan with multiple hits.

Michael Johnson scored on a sacrifice fly as Samford answered in the top of the third inning. Then after a scoreless third for the Trojans, Marcus Rodriguez led-off the fourth inning with a solo shot to left field but Troy starter Robby Loew (3.2 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, ND) got a fly out and a swinging strikeout before being chased after a bunt single by Bulldogs catcher Brad Moss.

Troy coach Bobby Pierce made the call to the bullpen for left-hander Fred Lewis to replace Loew. The junior allowed a single, but got a groundout to end the top of the fourth inning with the Trojans still in the lead 4-3. Lewis (1-0) got the win for the Trojans ? the first of his Troy career. He tossed an inning and a third, allowing a hit and a run.

Meredeth scored on a RBI groundout by David Schulze as he came around for the game-tying run in the top of the fifth inning for the Bulldogs. Troy wasted no time answering with a run to grab the advantage in the bottom of the fifth. Steven Felix started the frame with a lead-off double, then after moving to second on an Otwell groundout, he came in to score on a Bryant sacrifice fly for a 5-4 lead.

Precise added an insurance run for the Trojans in the sixth as he scored following a Brett Henry RBI base hit. Henry advanced to second on the throw in from left field, and then moved to third on a wild pitch. Felix and Otwell picked up back-to-back walks to load the bases, but Bryant's deep charge was tracked down by Schulze in left field to end the inning with Troy leading 6-4.

Samford threatened in the ninth inning after a lead-off walk of pinch-hitter Joe Durham and a double off the right field wall by Wayne Miller. The shortstop Johnson grounded out to second base, but got the run across the plate slicing Troy's lead to one run. Josh Storm issued two walks to load the bases but closed out the game with a fly out to centerfield.

Junior Tim Wheeler returned from off-season shoulder surgery to pitch a scoreless eighth inning, while Storm earned his third save of the season. Grant Sides started on the mound for Samford and managed one and a third innings while allowing four runs on four hits with five walks and three strike outs.

The Trojans are in action next on Friday at 6 pm central against Florida International in the first game of a three-game set. Taylor Bryan will bring you all the action on 94.7 WTBF beginning 5:45 with the Statefarm pregame show.