Trojans Run Win Streak To Six, Down UAB 11-3

Tuesday, April 21

Troy

6:00 PM

Troy University

UAB

Trojans Run Win Streak To Six, Down UAB 11-3

4/22/2009 2:45:00 AM | Baseball

The Troy Trojans were delayed by rain getting onto the field Tuesday night, but there was no apparent rust from the teams recent inactivity, as they downed UAB 11-3 at Riddle-Pace Field.

The Trojans improved to 24-13 with their sixth straight win while UAB falls to 22-18. The same two teams will play again on Wednesday night at Jerry Young Memorial Field in Birmingham.

In addition to having played just one game in the last eight days, the Trojans had not homered in their last four. Junior Miles Hoyle took care of that streak in the first inning, blasting a solo shot to left off Blazers starter James Oliver (2-3).

It was the first of two homers in the game for Hoyle, who took over the team lead on the year with eight. Senior Trevor Tyre also homered twice in the game for the Trojans, who had eight extra-base hits in the game.

“We played like a rested and ready to go team should tonight,” Trojans coach Bobby Pierce said of the win. “We were a little concerned that their might be some rust, but they have been having some great batting practice rounds over the last few days and didn't allow that to happen.”

It took some time for the Trojans to build up steam offensively, scoring single runs in the first, second, fourth and fifth innings before finally breaking through for three runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh.

While the Troy offense was building momentum against the Blazers, a trio of Trojan pitchers were keeping UAB off the board. Junior starter Jason Walls (3-2) had his best outing of the year, needing just 44 pitches to work four shutout innings, allowing two hits.

“We had Jason on a 40 pitch limit which, in some games this year, would have only gotten him through two innings,” Pierce said. “He was very efficient out there tonight and pitched very well. There were a lot of scouts in the stands tonight to see him pitch and he did himself a lot of good.”

Behind Walls, senior Travis Burge worked three innings, allowing two runs on four hits, and senior Jeff Green pitched the final two frames, allowing one run on two hits.

The Trojans 16-hit attack was led by Hoyle, who had two singles to go with his two solo homers. Michael Precise had three hits in the game, as did sophomore Adam Bryant, who continued his strong production from the ninth spot in the order, driving in two more runs.

Tyre had two solo homers and scored three times while Steven Felix had a pair of doubles and drove in two runs on his 21st birthday.

Cody McMurry had two hits, including a homer, and scored twice to lead UAB, who also got two hits from catcher Digger Towe.

The Trojans will look for a series sweep tomorrow when the teams meet at 6:30 p.m. in Birmingham.

“We have struggled against this team in the past, especially in Birmingham,” Pierce said. “We feel much better about tomorrow's game after seeing the way our kids played tonight. I am sure that UAB will be ready to avenge this loss, so we'll have to be ready to play again and, hopefully, get out of there with a sweep.”