Troy University Athletics
Saturday, March 13
Troy, Ala.
6:00 pm
Troy University
4
vs
5
Florida Atlantic
Trojans Fall to FAU 5-4 in 11 Innings
3/14/2010 3:00:00 AM | Baseball
Troy junior Chase Whitley did all that he could do to help the Trojans win on Saturday evening, but one pitch spoiled all of his hard work as Florida Atlantic took a 5-4 victory over Troy in 11 innings.
That one pitch was his first in the deciding 11th inning against reigning Sun Belt and Louisville Slugger national player of the week Nick Delguidice, who blasted it over the wall in left for the winning run.
FAU improved to 8-4 overall and 2-0 in Sun Belt play with the win while dropping the Trojans to 5-7 overall and 0-2 in the league.
“It was a game where opportunities abounded,” Trojans coach Bobby Pierce said. “We had the same problem tonight where we couldn't hit a pitch in the strikezone. That may come from trying too hard, but there are no excuses. We have to find ways to score runs other than on the home run.”
The one mistake on the mound for Whitley (0-1) overshadowed a four-hit performance that included a triple and a homer. He also worked 4.1 innings of relief on the mound, allowing just the one run on three hits while striking out four.
FAU's Andy Mee (1-0) earned the victory in relief for the Owls, despite having blown the save in the ninth inning when he surrendered a leadoff homer to Adam Bryant. Mee, also had two hits and an RBI in the game to go with his 3.1 innings on the mound where he allowed one run on three hits and struck out five.
Mee's five strikeouts capped a night in which FAU's three pitchers – starter Mike Gipson and relievers Ryan Bernal and Mee – combined to strikeout 17 Trojans, tying Troy's single game record. The last time Troy struck out as many as 17 times in a game was against FAU in 1999.
The game was back-and-forth all night. Both teams scored single runs in the third inning and FAU added an unearned run, thanks to a Whitley error at third, in the fifth.
Troy answered that run in the bottom of the inning when Whitley and Ryan Ditthardt hot back-to-back solo homers of Gipson, giving Troy a 3-2 lead.
That was where it stayed until the seventh when Anthony Mesa led off with a solo homer to tie the game and chase Trojans starter Andrew Dickinson. Senior Bart Pettus came on in relief, but surrendered a single and walk before Whitley took the mound.
Mee greeted Whitley with an RBI single to give the Owls a 4-3 lead.
“The loss spoiled a good pitching performance, but you have to give FAU credit for getting the ball into the wind. It was another tough loss and a tough loss at home.
“We have had plenty of chance to score runs, but we never seem to take advantage of them, and that is what happens when you aren't playing well. I give them credit because they are playing well and they got the big hits when they needed them.”
The Trojans had 11 hits in the game, with Whitley's four leading the way. Ditthardt also had a pair of hits. Mike Albaladejo led the Owls with four hits while Delguidice had three and Mee two.
The Trojans will try to salvage the final game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. when sophomore Tyler Ray (1-2) will likely get the start. He has been suffering from a stomach virus but is hopeful of taking the mound. If Ray is unable to go, freshman left-hander Shane McCain (2-1) will take the hill.
FAU will counter with freshman right-hander Kevin Alexander (1-1).
The first pitch at Riddle-Pace Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
That one pitch was his first in the deciding 11th inning against reigning Sun Belt and Louisville Slugger national player of the week Nick Delguidice, who blasted it over the wall in left for the winning run.
FAU improved to 8-4 overall and 2-0 in Sun Belt play with the win while dropping the Trojans to 5-7 overall and 0-2 in the league.
“It was a game where opportunities abounded,” Trojans coach Bobby Pierce said. “We had the same problem tonight where we couldn't hit a pitch in the strikezone. That may come from trying too hard, but there are no excuses. We have to find ways to score runs other than on the home run.”
The one mistake on the mound for Whitley (0-1) overshadowed a four-hit performance that included a triple and a homer. He also worked 4.1 innings of relief on the mound, allowing just the one run on three hits while striking out four.
FAU's Andy Mee (1-0) earned the victory in relief for the Owls, despite having blown the save in the ninth inning when he surrendered a leadoff homer to Adam Bryant. Mee, also had two hits and an RBI in the game to go with his 3.1 innings on the mound where he allowed one run on three hits and struck out five.
Mee's five strikeouts capped a night in which FAU's three pitchers – starter Mike Gipson and relievers Ryan Bernal and Mee – combined to strikeout 17 Trojans, tying Troy's single game record. The last time Troy struck out as many as 17 times in a game was against FAU in 1999.
The game was back-and-forth all night. Both teams scored single runs in the third inning and FAU added an unearned run, thanks to a Whitley error at third, in the fifth.
Troy answered that run in the bottom of the inning when Whitley and Ryan Ditthardt hot back-to-back solo homers of Gipson, giving Troy a 3-2 lead.
That was where it stayed until the seventh when Anthony Mesa led off with a solo homer to tie the game and chase Trojans starter Andrew Dickinson. Senior Bart Pettus came on in relief, but surrendered a single and walk before Whitley took the mound.
Mee greeted Whitley with an RBI single to give the Owls a 4-3 lead.
“The loss spoiled a good pitching performance, but you have to give FAU credit for getting the ball into the wind. It was another tough loss and a tough loss at home.
“We have had plenty of chance to score runs, but we never seem to take advantage of them, and that is what happens when you aren't playing well. I give them credit because they are playing well and they got the big hits when they needed them.”
The Trojans had 11 hits in the game, with Whitley's four leading the way. Ditthardt also had a pair of hits. Mike Albaladejo led the Owls with four hits while Delguidice had three and Mee two.
The Trojans will try to salvage the final game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. when sophomore Tyler Ray (1-2) will likely get the start. He has been suffering from a stomach virus but is hopeful of taking the mound. If Ray is unable to go, freshman left-hander Shane McCain (2-1) will take the hill.
FAU will counter with freshman right-hander Kevin Alexander (1-1).
The first pitch at Riddle-Pace Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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