Troy Baseball Drops Season Opener

Friday, February 17

Troy, Ala.

6 PM

Troy University

0-1

Xavier

1-0

Xavier

Troy

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

2/17/2017 10:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery Highlights

By: Jace Sanders

Box Score | Highlights | Photo Gallery

TROY, Alabama – Despite 16 strikeouts from seven different pitchers, Troy dropped its 2017 season opener, 6-2, to Xavier Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field in front of an opening day record crowd.

Brandon Lockridge led the Trojans (0-1), accounting for two of Troy's three hits and added an RBI double in the first inning, which went down as the only extra-base hit of the night for the Trojans.

Xavier (1-0) plated three runs in the top of the first inning and added single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The Musketeers got five strong innings on the mound from Zac Lowther (1-0), as he struck out eight and allowed just one run. Matt Kent tossed the final four innings for his first save of the season.

Corey Childress (0-1) struck out seven batters – one shy of a career-high – and walked just one, but suffered the loss for the Trojans after he was charged with five runs – four earned – on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
First-Inning Jam: After a leadoff walk, stolen base and a RBI single, Xavier's Nate Soria stepped up to the plate with two outs and delivered a two-run homer to give the Musketeers an early 3-0 lead.

Early Response: Behind 3-0 in the bottom of the first, Troy came to the plate looking to respond. Troy's first two batters reach via a hit by pitch and a walk – two batters later, Brandon Lockridge pushed across the first run of the season with a one-out double to right-center. Justin Friend followed with a sacrifice fly to deep left-center to pull the Trojans within one, 3-2.

Controversial Calls: In a 3-2 game in the bottom of the third, Matt Sanders took second on a two-out steal and headed for third after the throw sailed into center field. He was called out on a bang-bang play at third, which ended Troy's scoring threat.

In the top of the fourth, the Trojans had a chance to end the half inning with a double play. However, Matt Sanders was not granted a transfer call and both runners were called safe. Two batters later, the Musketeers hit an RBI single to push their lead to 4-2.

NOTEWORTHY
• An opening game record 1,821 fans were on hand to welcome baseball season back to Riddle-Pace Field. It broke last season's mark of 1,698 to watch the inaugural game of the Mark Smartt era.

• The Trojan pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts, which ties the 2016-high set in a 16-inning game against Jacksonville State.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Of the seven pitchers the Trojans utilized, four were freshmen. They threw 2.2 innings and only gave up two hits and one run.

QUOTABLE
"A lot of credit goes to Xavier because they were the better team tonight," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "Their starter was good, we had him on the ropes the first two innings, but then he was really good for the next four. We didn't play well, but we'll learn from it, get better, and come back tomorrow ready to go."

WHAT'S NEXT
The Trojans and Musketeers will play a doubleheader Saturday with the first pitch set for 1 p.m.

Probable Starters for Game 2:
Xavier: RHP Garrett Schilling
Troy: LHP Evan Hebert

Probable Starters for Game 3:
Xavier: LHP Trent Astle
Troy: RHP Daren Osby

For more information on Troy baseball, as well as all of Troy Athletics, visit TroyTrojans.com. Fans can also find the Trojans on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat by searching for Troy Athletics.