Peterson Powers Trojans To Double-Header Sweep

Saturday, March 12

Riddle-Pace Field

6:00 pm

Troy University

University of New Orleans

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

Peterson Powers Trojans To Double-Header Sweep

3/12/2011 8:41:52 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Ricky Hazel

FINAL BOX SCORE: PDF | HTML POST-GAME AUDIO

After hitting his first collegiate homer in the opening game on Saturday's double-header, Troy senior Daniel Peterson blasted a two-run shot in the nightcap and drove in four runs as the Trojans downed New Orleans 7-3.

Troy (12-3) took the first game of the twin-bill at Riddle-Pace Field 9-2 on Saturday afternoon. The Trojans and Privateers (1-14) will complete their four-game weekend series on Sunday with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

Ali Knowles got things started for the Trojans on Saturday night with an RBI double off UNO starter Corey Laudermill (0-1) in the second inning. Peterson followed with a two-run double, stole second and then scored on a wild pitch to give Troy a 4-0 lead.

“Daniel had a big day, but he has to find a way to cut down on the strikeouts,” Trojans coach Bobby Pierce said. “He has always been capable of big things and is one of the fastest and strongest players in our program. He has to find a way to put the ball in play with two strikes.”

Peterson followed up in the fourth inning when he launched a two-run homer down the line in left.

That appeared to be all Trojans starter Ryan Sorce (2-1) would need. The sophomore retired 13 of the first 14 Privateers he faced before UNO started to figure him out in the fifth inning. The Privateers had five of their nine hits in that one frame and scored single runs on a double by Andrew Garcia and a single by Chris Geronimo.

UNO was threatening to add more with its best hitter, Nolan Church, at the plate with the bases loaded, but Sorce struck him out to end the inning.

“They made some adjustments, but Ryan started getting the ball up as well,” Pierce said. “His success is with a two-seam sinker down and he had trouble finding that pitch. Since the season started, he has had a hard time finding that pitch. He got away from his arm slot in that one inning, but he got it back in the 6th. He is a battler and that is what I like about him.”

Sorce worked six innings in the game, allowing just the two runs on seven hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out five. Relievers Nathan Hill, Garrett McHenry and Tyson Workman worked an inning each to finish out the game. Hill surrendered a run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to account for the final UNO tally.

Troy got that run back in the bottom of the frame thanks to an error and a two-out double by Hayden Hillyer.

Knowles had three hits in the game, including two doubles, to lead the Trojans. Hillyer and Peterson added two hits apiece. Garcia had two hits as did Beau Beaudreaux and Hunter Boudreaux.

“Ali Knowles, each time we get him in there, he does something special. He had a great night in the field and had a couple of big hits. That is the way you do it. You have to take advantage of your chances. He did that tonight.”

Troy will send freshman left-hander Jimmy Hodgskin (0-1, 4.91) to the mound to start on Sunday in search of his first collegiate win. He will be opposed by UNO sophomore right-hander Zach Kelt (1-2, 9.82).

“Jimmy will go tomorrow and that is the reason he only threw 45 pitches on Tuesday,” Pierce said. “We are in good shape in the bullpen with the depth that we have, and that will give us a chance to complete the sweep tomorrow.”