Troy University Athletics
Troy University
14-10, 3-2
ULM
8-17, 1-5
Troy Baseball Routs ULM Behind Record-Breaking Offensive Performance
3/23/2014 5:03:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – The Troy baseball team set a new team single-game record with nine doubles in a seven-inning, 19-3 win over ULM on Sunday at Riddle-Pace Field. Including a pair of home runs, the Trojans pounded out 11 total extra base hits. The 16-run margin of victory was the most since Troy beat South Alabama 17-0 in 2010. The win was also Bobby Pierce's 200th conference win as Troy's head coach.
Designated hitter David Hall turned in a monster performance finishing the game 5-for-5 with two doubles, a grand slam and six RBIs; he fell just a triple shy of the cycle. Hall has hit safely in eight consecutive at bats and leads the team with a .377 average and 17 RBIs.
It was the first time Troy has run-ruled an opponent since last season when the Trojans defeated ULM 10-0.
Troy (14-10, 3-2 SBC) scored a run in each of the first two innings before exploding in the third. David Hall doubled down the left field line with one out and Jo-El Bennett followed with a double of his own to score the run. Matthew Howard walked before Bennett scored on a Nick Masonia single up the middle. Things would go from bad to worse for ULM (8-17, 1-5) after a pitching change as Justin Hancock was hit by a pitch and Tyler Vaughn doubled to drive home two more runs. Clay Holcomb was then hit by a pitch and Garrett Pitts walked to once again load the bases. After a strikeout, Hall launched a 0-1 pitch over the fence in left-center field to give Troy an 11-1 lead.
The nine-run inning saw 12 batters come to the plate and eight straight reach base. It was the first time eight consecutive batters reached base safely since 2010 at Kennesaw State.
Troy would score seven more runs in the fourth on the back of doubles by Masonia and Holcomb and a three-run homer from Bennett. As a team, the Trojans have hit 24 home runs in as many games. They have seven multi-home run games and three players tied for the team lead – David Hall, Trevin Hall and Bennett – with five home runs each.
Bennett and Holcomb would finish the game with three hits each while Masonia and Vaughn added two hits apiece. Bennett had five RBIs in the game while Vaughn added four.
The nine doubles in a game set a new team single-game record. The previous record of seven was accomplished four times, most recently in 2011 against Middle Tennessee State.
With the series win, the Trojans move to 3-2 in Sun Belt Conference play. Troy will travel to Pensacola on Tuesday to take on Alabama at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium, the home of the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Game time is set for 6:35 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Skinner, Marc (2-1)
L: Hermeling, Alex (0-3)
Batting:
2B: Stockton, Jacob 2
RBI: Rasch, Keelin 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Stockton, Jacob 3
Batting:
2B: Holcomb, Clay 1 ; Hall, David 2 ; Bennett, Jo-El 2 ; Howard, Matthew 1 ; Masonia, Nick 1 ; Hancock, Justin 1 ; Vaughn, Tyler 1
HR: Hall, David 1 ; Bennett, Jo-El 1
RBI: Holcomb, Clay 1 ; Pitts, Garrett 1 ; Hall, David 6 ; Bennett, Jo-El 5 ; Masonia, Nick 1 ; Hancock, Justin 1 ; Vaughn, Tyler 4
SH: Pitts, Garrett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Holcomb, Clay 3 ; Pitts, Garrett 1 ; Hall, Trevin 1 ; Hall, David 4 ; Bennett, Jo-El 2 ; Howard, Matthew 3 ; Masonia, Nick 2 ; Hancock, Justin 1 ; Vaughn, Tyler 2
SB: Holcomb, Clay 1
HBP: Holcomb, Clay 1 ; Hancock, Justin 1 ; Fuller, Peyton 1
