Trojans Rally Past ULM 7-5

Saturday, May 9

Troy

6:00 PM

Troy University

UL-Monroe

5/10/2009 2:45:00 AM | Baseball

TROY, Ala. ? The final seven outs on Saturday night at Riddle-Pace Field did not go exactly as junior closer Chris Sorce had hoped, but it went well enough for the host Troy Trojans, who scored two runs in the eighth inning to seal a 7-5 victory over ULM.

With the victory, the Trojans (29-19, 16-8) wrapup no worse than fourth place in the final Sun Belt Conference standings and keeps Troy in position to finish as high as second. ULM (26-24, 12-16) has lost nine of 10 in league play and has not yet secured a spot in the Sun Belt tournament.

Sorce (2-0) came into the game in the seventh inning with the Trojans clinging to a 5-4 lead over the Warhawks. Troy senior Travis Burge had been masterful on the mound for the Trojans for the first six innings, not allowing his first hit until there were two out in the fifth.

Burge did not get a decision in the game despite allowing just two runs on five hits through six and two-thirds innings. He walked two and struck out four.

But, after Jeff Green came on in relief of Burge, allowing a hit and walking two, Sorce was called on to put out the fire with the bases loaded and two out. He quickly got two strikes on ULM's Matt Laird, before leaving a pitch up in the zone. Laird blasted the pitch off the scoreboard in right, scoring two to cut Troy's lead to 5-4.

The only thing that kept the hit from tying the game was an excellent relay throw from Charley Williams in right, to Trevor Tyre to Steven Felix at home to nail Matt Collins at the plate. It was one of several standout defensive plays in the game for the Trojans.

“I hate that Travis didn't get the win,” Troy coach Bobby Pierce said. “We had some great defense behind Travis and I think he was about as good as he's been tonight.”

Despite the standout defense in the game for Troy, it was a defensive miscue in the eighth inning that cost Burge the victory. With runners at first and third and two out, Sorce got ULM's Boomer Blanchard to hit a towering pop up, just to the first base side of the mound. The Troy pitcher never saw the fly ball, and first baseman Ryan Ditthardt over ran the popup, which fell just off his mitt, allowing Ryan McMillan to score from second with the tying run.

The Trojans were seemingly unphased by the error, coming back to score twice in the home half of the inning. Steven Felix led off the frame by drawing a walk from ULM closer Drew Graham (2-2). Adam Bryant moved Felix to second with a sacrifice bunt before Chad Watson delivered a run-scoring triple to the gap in left center.

Trevor Tyre followed an out later with a single to score Watson for the final margin.

“We spend a lot of time working on the sacrifice bunt and try to only use it when the game is one the line,” Pierce said.

Sorce worked around a one-out double in the ninth to strike out the side to complete the win. All six outs he recorded over the final two frames were on strikes, but he also gave up four hits, three of which were doubles.

Troy jumped out to a 5-0 lead on the Warhawks early, scoring once in the second and four times in the third off ULM starter Justin Anderson. After a two-run double by Miles Hoyle in the third was followed by a run-scoring single by Michael Precise, it appeared as if it would be a short night for Anderson.

The junior rallied, however, recording back-to-back strikeouts to end the third and went on to pitch into the seventh inning without allowing another run. Overall he allowed five runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out four.

“You have to give their left-hander credit,” Pierce said. “He got stronger as the game went along.”

Tyre led the Trojans to the victory with three hits and two RBI in the game. Hoyle and Precise added two hits each for Troy. McMillan and Ben Soignier had two hits each to lead ULM.

The Trojans will go for the sweep on Sunday at 1 p.m. when junior right-hander Jason Walls (3-4, 4.47) takes the mound to face ULM junior right-hander Don Williams (5-1, 5.60). Pregame festivities on Mother's Day will include recognition for the nine Troy seniors as well as Troy University first lady Janice Hawkins, who will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.