McDorman Walk-Off Seals 8-7 Win

Tuesday, May 3

Riddle-Pace Field

6:00 pm

Troy University

Jacksonville State University

Photo by: Edward Fieder

5/3/2011 11:17:51 PM | Baseball

By: Taylor Bryan

BOX SCORE

TROY – Troy outfielder Josh McDorman came through in the clutch with a pinch-hit RBI double to plate Daniel Peterson and give the Trojans an 8-7 win over Jacksonville State in 11 innings on Tuesday night at Riddle-Pace Field.

Peterson had reached one batter earlier on an error by JSU second baseman Blake Seguin and as McDorman's double rolled to the fence in left centerfield, the senior from Daphne raced around third base and scored to give the Trojans the walk-off win.

“It was a huge win for us,” head coach Bobby Pierce said. Especially after being down significantly early in the game against a good Jacksonville State team that can really swing the bats. Our bullpen was able to keep them in check there after they got the early lead to and allowed us to scratch back in there and then win it late.

“This was a key win for our club this year as we go into a big series this weekend.”

The run gave Troy (32-13) its first and only lead of the night.

The Gamecocks (27-16) got their offense started early, piling up six runs in the first two innings and chasing Troy starter A.J. Howard after just 1.2 innings pitched. Making the first start of his career, the junior left-hander allowed six runs on seven hits, but did not factor into the decision.

The Trojans responded with at least one run in both the first and the second inning, including a solo home run by Adam Bryant in the first. The blast moved the senior shortstop into the top spot on Troy's all-time list for total bases as he passed former Trojan Clint Robinson (423).

Bryant finished the night with a double on top of his home run to give him 426 total bases for his career – a new record. His pair of hits also moved him within one hit of tying Robinson for the program record at 253.

Todd McRae led off the second inning with a double for his fifth straight hit dating back to Sunday's game at FAU. He would later advance to third on a ground out by Logan Pierce and score on a double by Boone Shear to close the Trojans within three runs at 6-3.

Troy closed the gap once again with another run in the fifth, this time on a solo home run from Pierce, his fourth of the season. The Trojans would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to sandwich a JSU score in the top half.

The Trojans earned one on a McRae fielder's choice that scored Tyler Hannah from third. Then another run was plated during a bizarre series of plays that included a pair of balks on JSU pitcher Cody Ponder that resulted in Bryant strolling home to cut the deficit to a run, 7-6.

23 outs would go by before the Trojans plated the winning run with key inning coming from three arms out of the bullpen. Nathan Hill (1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K) entered in the fifth and following an infield single, he struck out a pair with the bases loaded to escape unscathed.

Tyson Workman worked two innings and allowed just one hit while walking one and striking out two. He danced around runners in scoring position in the eighth and ninth but slid by without any damage.

Troy relied on Nick Ward for a pair of solid innings in the 10th and 11th and the senior failed to allow a hit with a strike out and one walk as he sat the Gamecocks down in order in the 10th inning and worked around the lone walk in the 11th to set the stage for the walk-off win and improve his record to 2-0 this season.

“Those were huge innings,” Pierce said. “That was the best command of his fastball he has had this year. It came on a night when the conditions were a little tough, the mound was a little slick, the ball was a little wet, but he was focused and was determined. He kept pounding the strike zone and gave us a chance to win the ball game.”

Daniel Watts took the loss for JSU. He dropped to 0-4 this season. Coty Blanchard paced Jacksonville State with three hits, while Jake Sharrock had three RBI all coming on a second inning three-run blast to center. Sam Eberle also had two RBI for the visitors.

In addition to Bryant's pair, Workman had two hits out of the leadoff spot, while T.J. Rivera led the way with three base knocks.

Tuesday night's match-up lasted four hours and nine minutes. It was the longest game of the year for Troy.

The Trojans are in action next on Friday when they begin the final home set of the year, a three-game series with Louisiana-Lafayette. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m. at Riddle-Pace Field. The first 30 kids in the gate will receive a free poster autographed by Troy's seven seniors.