Troy University Athletics
Troy University
17-17
Alabama A&M
14-20
Middle-Innings Surge Leads Troy to Victory
4/9/2014 9:23:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – The Troy University baseball team snapped a four-game skid with a 9-6 win over Alabama A&M on Wednesday at Riddle-Pace Field. The Trojans are now 8-0 all-time against the in-state rival.
Things we're easy for Troy early as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead thanks to a three-run first inning, but the Trojans got the bats going in the middle innings.
Alabama A&M leadoff batter Julio Nunez opened the game with a home run. Two singles, a walk and a sacrifice fly later, the Bulldogs had built a 3-0 advantage. In the second inning, AAMU scored another run on an RBI single from Austin Hulsey.
Tyler Vaughn drove in Troy's first run in 18 innings in the bottom of the second with an RBI single scoring Nick Masonia. Second baseman Garrett Pitts turned in his 12th multi-hit game of the season with a 4-for-5 night; it was his second four-hit game of the year. Vaughn, Jo-El Bennett and Matthew Howard had two hits each.
David Hall led off the fourth inning with a solo shot, his sixth of the season, and Masonia singled to score Bennett as the Trojans tied the game, 4-4. In the fifth, Ali Knowles and Pitts hit back-to-back doubles to start the frame and hand Troy the lead.
The Trojans (17-17) would pull away in the sixth with five runs, all coming with two outs. Justin Hancock led off with a walk. A sacrifice bunt and pop up later, Pitts singled to center to score Hancock. David Hall walked and Bennett singled off the pitcher to load the bases. Howard then put down a perfect bunt down the third base line to score another run. Masonia was hit by a pitch before Vaughn singled to plate a pair of runs giving Troy a 9-4 advantage.
The Bulldogs (14-20) would pick up a pair of runs on a two-run home run by Hulsey to cap the scoring.
Levi Tate (1-0), who entered in relief of starter Jesse Nelson, pitched five innings allowing two runs on two hits and struck out a career-high eight batters. Ben Tidwell tossed the final 1 2/3 innings to earn his first career save.
The Trojans will host Western Kentucky at Riddle-Pace Field in a three-game series starting at 6 p.m. on Friday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tate, Levi (1-0)
L: Knight, Taylor (2-3)
S: Tidwell, Ben (1)
Batting:
HR: Nunez, Julio 1 ; Hulsey, Austin 1
RBI: Nunez, Julio 1 ; Hulsey, Austin 3 ; Waddell, Caleb 1 ; Smith, Allen 1
SH: Hulsey, Austin 1
SF: Smith, Allen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nunez, Julio 1 ; Folger, Justen 1 ; Hulsey, Austin 1 ; Utterback, Andrew 1 ; Welch, Keyonta 2
SB: Welch, Keyonta 1
HBP: Nunez, Julio 1
Batting:
2B: Knowles, Ali 1 ; Pitts, Garrett 2 ; Bennett, Jo-El 1
HR: Hall, David 1
RBI: Pitts, Garrett 2 ; Hall, David 1 ; Howard, Matthew 1 ; Masonia, Nick 2 ; Vaughn, Tyler 3
SH: Holcomb, Clay 1 ; Howard, Matthew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Knowles, Ali 1 ; Pitts, Garrett 1 ; Hall, David 2 ; Bennett, Jo-El 2 ; Howard, Matthew 1 ; Masonia, Nick 1 ; Hancock, Justin 1
HBP: Masonia, Nick 1
PO: Pitts, Garrett 1
