Troy University Athletics
Sunday, May 9
Monroe, La.
1:00 pm
Troy University
3
at
2
ULM
Trojans Hold Off ULM For 3-2 Win
5/9/2010 8:00:00 PM | Baseball
MONROE, La. – Going into the series finale at ULM, the Troy Trojans expected to need to score a lot of runs to earn a series victory.
Junior right-handers Drew Hull and Chase Whitley made an offensive explosion unnecessary, but the Trojans had to hold off the Warhawks in the ninth inning to take a 3-2 victory.
The win evens the Trojans' season record in Sun Belt Conference play at 12-12 while also improving Troy's overall record on the year to a season-best five games over .500 at 26-21.
ULM falls to 17-31 overall and 7-17 in league play.
Hull (3-5) cruised through the first five innings against ULM, running into trouble in the sixth with a one-out walk before a single by Judd Edwards. The Trojans turned to Whitley at that point, who allowed a sacrifice fly to Nick Wade before getting out of the jam.
The Ranburne native kept the ULM bats quiet through the next two innings, but the Warhawks continued to battle in the ninth, scoring a run and leaving the potential tying and winning runs on base when the game ended.
“Chase had great stuff and they had a couple of guys come to the plate who refused to make an out,” Trojans coach Bobby Pierce said. “ Drew Hull had a great start and did the job he was out there to do. Chase Whitley got it done and, fortunately, the three runs got it done.”
The Trojans got off to the fastest start possible when Adam Bryant hit the first pitch of the game out to left off ULM starter Jordy Poche (3-5). It was Bryant's fourth leadoff homer of the year and his team-leading 15th overall.
Troy added another run in the first on a ground double play off the bat of Ryan Ditthardt and did the same in the second on a double play grounder by Shohei Fujita.
Poche, who has had some arm problems this season, settled in after the early difficulties and went the distance for the Warhawks. Troy had a chance to break the game open in the fourth, but left the bases loaded when Bryant was nipped at first on a slow ground ball.
“After the first inning Poche told Coach (Jeff) Schexnaider that he didn't know how long he could go, but he winds up going the distance,” Pierce said. “He really settled in and pitched well.”
Hull struck out five while allowing just three hits in his 5.1 innings of work for the win. Whitley picked up his sixth save of the season, working 4.2 innings, allowing a run on four hits while striking out four.
The Trojans will now return to Riddle-Pace Field for the final home stand of the 2010 season. Troy will host Kennesaw State on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. before Arkansas State comes in next weekend for a big Sun Belt series.
“We want to make a big push for next weekend, especially for the Sunday game because of the big group of seniors we have,” Pierce said.
Sunday's final home game will be Senior Day for 13 Trojans seniors.
Junior right-handers Drew Hull and Chase Whitley made an offensive explosion unnecessary, but the Trojans had to hold off the Warhawks in the ninth inning to take a 3-2 victory.
The win evens the Trojans' season record in Sun Belt Conference play at 12-12 while also improving Troy's overall record on the year to a season-best five games over .500 at 26-21.
ULM falls to 17-31 overall and 7-17 in league play.
Hull (3-5) cruised through the first five innings against ULM, running into trouble in the sixth with a one-out walk before a single by Judd Edwards. The Trojans turned to Whitley at that point, who allowed a sacrifice fly to Nick Wade before getting out of the jam.
The Ranburne native kept the ULM bats quiet through the next two innings, but the Warhawks continued to battle in the ninth, scoring a run and leaving the potential tying and winning runs on base when the game ended.
“Chase had great stuff and they had a couple of guys come to the plate who refused to make an out,” Trojans coach Bobby Pierce said. “ Drew Hull had a great start and did the job he was out there to do. Chase Whitley got it done and, fortunately, the three runs got it done.”
The Trojans got off to the fastest start possible when Adam Bryant hit the first pitch of the game out to left off ULM starter Jordy Poche (3-5). It was Bryant's fourth leadoff homer of the year and his team-leading 15th overall.
Troy added another run in the first on a ground double play off the bat of Ryan Ditthardt and did the same in the second on a double play grounder by Shohei Fujita.
Poche, who has had some arm problems this season, settled in after the early difficulties and went the distance for the Warhawks. Troy had a chance to break the game open in the fourth, but left the bases loaded when Bryant was nipped at first on a slow ground ball.
“After the first inning Poche told Coach (Jeff) Schexnaider that he didn't know how long he could go, but he winds up going the distance,” Pierce said. “He really settled in and pitched well.”
Hull struck out five while allowing just three hits in his 5.1 innings of work for the win. Whitley picked up his sixth save of the season, working 4.2 innings, allowing a run on four hits while striking out four.
The Trojans will now return to Riddle-Pace Field for the final home stand of the 2010 season. Troy will host Kennesaw State on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. before Arkansas State comes in next weekend for a big Sun Belt series.
“We want to make a big push for next weekend, especially for the Sunday game because of the big group of seniors we have,” Pierce said.
Sunday's final home game will be Senior Day for 13 Trojans seniors.
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