Trojans Bounce Back To Down ULL 12-3 In Series Finale

Sunday, April 26

Troy

1:00 PM

Troy University

UL-Lafayette

Trojans Bounce Back To Down ULL 12-3 In Series Finale

4/26/2009 9:00:00 PM | Baseball

TROY, Ala. ? For two days, Troy senior Michael Precise had to sit and watch as his Troy University teammates struggled against Louisiana-Lafayette pitching.

Precise returned to the lineup on Sunday and helped the Trojans avoid a sweep by driving in three runs in a 12-3 Troy victory. The Trojans improved to 25-16 overall with the win and stay within striking distance of the Sun Belt leaders with a 12-7 league mark.

ULL falls to 20-21-1 overall and 10-13 in league play with the loss.

After getting just eight total hits in the first two games against the Ragin' Cajuns, the Trojans piled up 17 hits in Sunday's win. For the first time all weekend, the Trojans got off to a good start against ULL, plating a pair of runs in the first inning off freshman left-hander Alex Fuselier (2-2).

“We were able to score some runs early on and that set the tempo for the entire game,” Troy coach Bobby Pierce said. “We pitched and defended well, but we had better quickness and better strikezone awareness at the plate than we did in the first two games.”

Chad Watson led off the first with a double into the rightfield corner on the first pitch he saw. He moved up to third on a ground out and scored on a ground ball to short by Precise, sliding under catcher Thad Griffen to beat the throw from Greg Fontenot.

Precise quickly stole second, moved up on another ground ball and then scored on a bloop single to center by Miles Hoyle.

“I like the way we attacked them early in the game, we did some good things early to score some runs,” Pierce said. “I really liked the way we continued to extend the lead later in the game.”

The Trojans continued to produce in the second inning, loading the bases with a walk and consecutive bunt hits by Adam Bryant and Watson before Charley Williams doubled off the wall in left to plate two runs and end the day for Fuselier.

The Trojans added another run on a ground ball by Precise that turned into a double play when Williams was thrown out trying to take third as Watson scored. Troy did take a hit in the inning when Ryan Ditthardt was hit in the head with a pitch from Gregory Harmon. He stayed in the game to run, but did not come back out defensively in the third.

ULL got two runs back in the fourth off Troy starter Travis Burge (4-1) when Les Smith hit a 2-2 fastball over the scoreboard, scoring Scott Hawkins, who singled up the middle in front if him.

The Cajuns added another run in the fifth when Kyle Olasin, who reached on a fielders' choice and moved up on a wild pitch, scored on a single down the line in left by Matt Goulas.

Burge had a strong outing for the Trojans, allowing just three runs on seven hits over seven innings. He didn't walk anyone, but hit two batters and had two strikeouts. Chris Sorce worked the final two innings for Troy, striking out three of the seven batters he faced.

Harmon worked six innings in relief for ULL, allowing three runs on nine hits.

Troy pushed its lead to 6-3 in the sixth when Precise delivered a two-out single to score Watson, who had doubled. The Trojans had a chance to increase the lead even more, but left two runners on in the inning.

Troy added another insurance run in the seventh when Hoyle, who reached on his fourth hit of the game, scored on a single by Bryant.

The Trojans blew the game open in the eighth inning, scoring five times against a trio of ULL hurlers. Otwell's single plated Steven Rosado with the first run in the inning and then, after a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases, Felix delivered a bases clearing triple to the gap in left-center.

Bryant followed with a two-out single to plate Felix for the final margin of victory.

In addition to Hoyle's four hits, the Trojans got three hits each from Watson and Bryant and two hits apiece from Precise and Otwell. ULL got two hits each from Goulas and Hawkins.

The Trojans will be back in action this week with a home-and-home series against Auburn before hosting league-leading Middle Tennessee in a weekend Sun Belt Conference series.

“We have five big games this week against two teams that can really hit the ball, and hit it with power,” Pierce said. “Pitching will be at a premium for us to be successful, but these are also big games for our fans. We had some good crowds out for the games this weekend, but we'd like to see the stands continue to fill up for these big games this week.”

Tuesday's game will be at Auburn's Plainsman Park with the first pitch set for 6 p.m. The teams will meet again on Wednesday night at Riddle-Pace Field with a 6 p.m. scheduled first pitch.