Troy University Athletics
Trojans Still Have Sights Set On League Crown
5/7/2009 8:15:00 PM | Baseball
The Troy University baseball program goes into its final home weekend of the regular season with a certain knowledge of the task ahead.
The Trojans have to sweep both visiting ULM this weekend, and at USA next week, and get some help if they are to capture the Sun Belt regular season title. Troy will open a three-game set against the Warhawks on Friday evening at Riddle-Pace Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Troy enters the weekend four games behind league-leading Western Kentucky, but just three back in the loss column. The Hilltoppers make the tough trek to Lafayette, La., this weekend to face the Ragin' Cajuns. Middle Tennessee, which stands second in the league race, plays out of conference this weekend.
WKU and MTSU will face each other during the seasons' final weekend. If ULL were to sweep WKU this weekend, and the Trojans sweep ULM, then Troy, MTSU and WKU would all enter the final weekend of the season with eight league losses.
But, before the Trojans can worry about when anyone else does this weekend, they have to find a way to take care of business against the Warhawks, who currently stand sixth in the league race, and have not yet guaranteed themselves a spot in the Sun Belt Tournament.
Prior to a non-conference victory over Northwestern State on Wednesday night, ULM (26-22, 12-14) had lost six straight games overall and 10 of 13. During that skid the Warhawks have dropped seven of eight league games.
The Warhawks are led offensively by preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Ben Soignier. The Senior shortstop is hitting .368 on the year with eight homers and a team-high 58 RBI. ULM's top power hitter is senior outfielder Jon Provist, who has 14 homers to go with a .355 average and 47 RBI.
As a team, ULM has eight regular players batting better than .300 on the year and boasts of a .329 team average, good for third in the conference behind WKU and MTSU. Sophomore infielder Jordy Poche and junior infielder Boomer Blanchard led the Warhawks, both hitting .371 on the year.
While the ULM offense has been productive all year, averaging 8.43 runs per game, it is on the mound where they have struggled. The Warhawks have a team ERA of 6.27 on the season and opponents are hitting .327 on the year against them.
ULM is expected to send a pair of left-handers to the hill to open the series against Troy. Senior Keith Christensen, a native of Brooklyn, NY, will start on Friday. He has a 4-2 mark on the year with a 4.55 ERA in 12 appearances.
Troy will counter on Friday night with freshman right-hander Tyler Ray. The Hoover native has given the Trojans a great deal of stability in his first season, posting a 6-3 record with a 3.97 ERA. In league play he has lost twice, but both times were on the short end of opposing shutouts.
Saturday's game will see a pair of left-handers square off. ULM will send junior Justin Anderson (6-2, 6.59) to the mound to face Troy senior Travis Burge (5-1, 5.31). It will be the first Saturday start of the year for Burge, who has been working on Sunday's all season.
The series finale will feature a pair of junior right-handers. Troy's Jason Walls (3-4, 4.47) has struggled off and on all year with his control, and had an off start last week against Middle Tennessee. He will face ULM's Don Williams (5-1, 5.60).
Both Williams and Anderson pitched during Wednesday's game for ULM. Williams got the victory despite allowing four runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of work while Anderson gave up two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.
In addition to the importance of the series this weekend, Sunday's game, on Mother's Day, will also be Senior Day for the Trojans. Nine Troy seniors will be honored during pre-game festivities for their accomplishments both on and off the field.
Those nine seniors are: 3B Brett Henry (Mobile, Ala.), OF Michael Precise (Geneva, Ala.), OF Charley Williams (Tupelo, Miss.), 2B Trevor Tyre (Marianna, Fla.) and pitchers Burge (Port St. Joe, Fla.), Jeff Green (Byron, Mich.), J.J. Whetsel (Tallahassee, Fla.), Josh Storm (Cottondale, Fla.) and Steven Morelock (Abbeville, Ala.).
Following Senior Day festivities on Sunday, Troy University First Lady, Mrs. Janice Hawkins, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch in honor of Mother's Day.
All three games of the weekend series will be broadcast live on WTBF-FM 94.7 with Barry McKnight and Jerry Miller calling the action. The games will also be available on the internet at TroyTrojans.com via audio and video streaming and through live statistics.
The Trojans have to sweep both visiting ULM this weekend, and at USA next week, and get some help if they are to capture the Sun Belt regular season title. Troy will open a three-game set against the Warhawks on Friday evening at Riddle-Pace Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Troy enters the weekend four games behind league-leading Western Kentucky, but just three back in the loss column. The Hilltoppers make the tough trek to Lafayette, La., this weekend to face the Ragin' Cajuns. Middle Tennessee, which stands second in the league race, plays out of conference this weekend.
WKU and MTSU will face each other during the seasons' final weekend. If ULL were to sweep WKU this weekend, and the Trojans sweep ULM, then Troy, MTSU and WKU would all enter the final weekend of the season with eight league losses.
But, before the Trojans can worry about when anyone else does this weekend, they have to find a way to take care of business against the Warhawks, who currently stand sixth in the league race, and have not yet guaranteed themselves a spot in the Sun Belt Tournament.
Prior to a non-conference victory over Northwestern State on Wednesday night, ULM (26-22, 12-14) had lost six straight games overall and 10 of 13. During that skid the Warhawks have dropped seven of eight league games.
The Warhawks are led offensively by preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Ben Soignier. The Senior shortstop is hitting .368 on the year with eight homers and a team-high 58 RBI. ULM's top power hitter is senior outfielder Jon Provist, who has 14 homers to go with a .355 average and 47 RBI.
As a team, ULM has eight regular players batting better than .300 on the year and boasts of a .329 team average, good for third in the conference behind WKU and MTSU. Sophomore infielder Jordy Poche and junior infielder Boomer Blanchard led the Warhawks, both hitting .371 on the year.
While the ULM offense has been productive all year, averaging 8.43 runs per game, it is on the mound where they have struggled. The Warhawks have a team ERA of 6.27 on the season and opponents are hitting .327 on the year against them.
ULM is expected to send a pair of left-handers to the hill to open the series against Troy. Senior Keith Christensen, a native of Brooklyn, NY, will start on Friday. He has a 4-2 mark on the year with a 4.55 ERA in 12 appearances.
Troy will counter on Friday night with freshman right-hander Tyler Ray. The Hoover native has given the Trojans a great deal of stability in his first season, posting a 6-3 record with a 3.97 ERA. In league play he has lost twice, but both times were on the short end of opposing shutouts.
Saturday's game will see a pair of left-handers square off. ULM will send junior Justin Anderson (6-2, 6.59) to the mound to face Troy senior Travis Burge (5-1, 5.31). It will be the first Saturday start of the year for Burge, who has been working on Sunday's all season.
The series finale will feature a pair of junior right-handers. Troy's Jason Walls (3-4, 4.47) has struggled off and on all year with his control, and had an off start last week against Middle Tennessee. He will face ULM's Don Williams (5-1, 5.60).
Both Williams and Anderson pitched during Wednesday's game for ULM. Williams got the victory despite allowing four runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of work while Anderson gave up two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings.
In addition to the importance of the series this weekend, Sunday's game, on Mother's Day, will also be Senior Day for the Trojans. Nine Troy seniors will be honored during pre-game festivities for their accomplishments both on and off the field.
Those nine seniors are: 3B Brett Henry (Mobile, Ala.), OF Michael Precise (Geneva, Ala.), OF Charley Williams (Tupelo, Miss.), 2B Trevor Tyre (Marianna, Fla.) and pitchers Burge (Port St. Joe, Fla.), Jeff Green (Byron, Mich.), J.J. Whetsel (Tallahassee, Fla.), Josh Storm (Cottondale, Fla.) and Steven Morelock (Abbeville, Ala.).
Following Senior Day festivities on Sunday, Troy University First Lady, Mrs. Janice Hawkins, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch in honor of Mother's Day.
All three games of the weekend series will be broadcast live on WTBF-FM 94.7 with Barry McKnight and Jerry Miller calling the action. The games will also be available on the internet at TroyTrojans.com via audio and video streaming and through live statistics.
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