Trojans Run Rule UL on Sunday

Sunday, May 8

Riddle-Pace Field

1:00 pm

Troy University

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

5/8/2011 5:26:53 PM | Baseball

By: Taylor Bryan

BOX SCORE :: PHOTO GALLERY

TROY – Troy earned its first-ever series win over Louisiana-Lafayette by picking up a 13-3 run-rule victory on Sunday in Sun Belt action at Riddle-Pace Field.

The game was the second time this season that the Trojans had picked up a seven inning win because of the run rule (March 27 vs. UALR, 13-3). Troy had previously dropped at least two of its other five series against UL.

“Offensively, I was very happy with our approach,” Troy head coach Bobby Pierce said. “We came out really with a great intent there - a lot of balls off the bat and several balls out of the park. That led us to a 10-run game.

“Getting a win at home and with this being the first time we've won a series against Lafayette since we've been in the league, getting that monkey off our back. Hopefully, that will help us in the future. They are a good club. They play hard. They play the game the right way. To get this series win was huge for our team.”

The victory kept the Trojans a game up on FIU in the Sun Belt Conference race. Troy owns the tie breaker with the Golden Panthers thanks to a series win at home in early April.

The 13 runs scored by Troy marked just the third time in 80 games that the Cajuns had allowed 10 or more runs. The total also ties the season high for the Men of Troy in a Sun Belt game.

Troy starter Shane McCain set the tone early by striking out the first six batters he faced at the plate. The sophomore was solid for four innings, as he allowed just three runs on four hits with no walks.

“Coming off the Saturday loss, I was really, really proud of Shane McCain's start to this game,” Pierce said. “He had great intent to his work. It set the tone to our entire ball club, this is a big game for us at home, on Mother's Day, on Senior Day and our last conference home game. Then Shane really toed the rubber up the right way with the right intent. He did a great job of opening up the day the right way, then [Nate Hill] came in and got his three zeroes.”

McCain gave way to Hill (3-0) to start the fifth and he finished out the final three frames without allowing a run. The junior struck out four with only one walk issued en route to his third win of the season.

The Trojans were clinging to 4-3 lead when the game entered the bottom of the fifth inning. When the fifth inning ended, they had a much firmer grip on the contest.

After Todd McRae grounded out to start the frame, Blake Martz blasted a solo home run to straight away centerfield – his second in as many innings. He previously homered to lead-off the fourth to knot the game at three. His second homer was only the start of Troy's biggest offensive inning.

Josh McDorman followed the homer with a double and after a fly out by Logan Pierce, Daniel Peterson reached on an infield single to UL third baseman Jordan Bourque. Lead-off man Tyson Workman was next to the plate and he brought the pair home with a three-run home run to left field.

The Trojans weren't done though and as the two-out rally continued, Tyler Hannah went to first and then second on a walk and a stolen base. Adam Bryant followed behind him with a double to right-center to make it 9-3 in favor of Troy.

Troy didn't stop there thought and brought four more runs home in the seventh to end the game. Pierce reached on a throwing error to start the inning, then Peterson followed up with a bunt single that also included Pierce moving all the way to an uncovered third base.

Workman followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Pierce. Peterson then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, putting him in scoring position. After another Hannah walk, Bryant again doubled, this time chasing Peterson home for an 11-3 lead.

The next batter, T.J. Rivera, reached on an error by the second baseman, but Hannah and Bryant failed to advance, thus loading the bases. Next, McRae was hit by a pitch for the second time on Sunday to force home Hannah and Martz's fielder's choice scored Bryant to give the Trojans the 13-3 run rule victory.

Troy's four home runs on Sunday were a season high. McDorman lead the way with three knocks, while Bryant and Martz each had a pair of hits.

T.J. Geith (5-4) took the loss for the Cajuns. He allowed eight runs in 4.2 innings of work. Lance Marvel was the only UL player with two hits.

The Trojans are in action next on Tuesday when they hit the road mid-week for the final time to face Florida A&M. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. central time in Tallahassee.