Monmouth Defeats Troy 7-5 to Even Series

Saturday, March 10

Troy, Ala.

6:00 p.m.

Troy University

Monmouth

Photo by: Edward Fieder

3/10/2012 9:23:00 PM | Baseball

By: Adam Prendergast

BOX SCORE

TROY, Ala. – Monmouth scored in just two innings, including a three-run seventh, to defeat Troy 7-5 Saturday night at Riddle-Pace Field to even the three-game series at a game each. The rubber game will take place Sunday at 1 p.m.

Troy (8-6) took a 5-4 lead with a pair of doubles by Austin Golden and Clay Holcomb in the sixth, but Tim Bickford delivered a two-out, two-run single in the seventh to push Monmouth (5-6) in front. Jamie Rosenkranz tied the game earlier in the frame with a double down the line in left field on a hit-and-run.

Boone Shear gave the Trojans a 2-0 lead in the second with a towering home run to left-center field – his third of the year – after Logan Pierce led off the frame with a single through the right-side of the infield. Tyler Vaughn followed with a single and later scored on a Monmouth throwing error.

The Hawks took their first lead of the weekend with a four-run fourth inning. After being held hitless through the first three frames, Monmouth loaded the bases with a walk and a pair of singles to lead off the fourth. Bickford doubled to right-center to drive in a pair and two more runs would score on a pair of wild pitches.

Jake Harrell got one of the runs back for the Trojans in the home half of the fourth with a double off the wall in right field to score Golden after he drew a two-out walk.

Troy out-hit Monmouth 11-7 on the night led by a pair of hits from both Pierce and Golden. Bickford finished 2-for-5 with four RBIs for the Hawks.

Dan Smith (2-2) earned the win for Monmouth after eight solid innings of work. He allowed five runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out three; Neil Harm worked around a hit and a walk in the ninth to pick up his first save.

Jimmy Hodgskin took a no-decision for the Trojans after allowing four runs on three hits in five innings; he walked four and struck out seven. Thomas Austin (0-1) took the loss and was charged with three runs on two hits.