Trojans Split Home-and-Home with Samford

Wednesday, March 22

Birmingham, Ala.

6 PM

Troy University

12-8

Samford

13-8

Troy

Samford

Photo by: Joey Meredith

3/22/2017 8:51:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

By: Jace Sanders

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Troy gave up a run in each of the last two innings to drop the second game of the mid-week series, 4-3, to Samford at Joe Lee Griffin Field Wednesday night.

The Trojans (12-8) failed to hold on after taking an early 3-2 lead after scoring all three of their runs in the third inning on back-to-back doubles from Matt Sanders and Brandon Lockridge. Sanders finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Lockridge delivered two RBIs on his double. TJ Binder batted 2-for-3 at the plate and turned in his first multi-hit game of the season.

Andrew Crane dealt five strikeouts en route to his best performance of the season on the mound – allowing no runs on two hits in four innings of work. Ryan Fultz (0-1) entered in the eighth and suffered the loss after giving up one run on one hit.

Samford (13-8) used late runs to bounce back after a disappointing loss in Troy Tuesday night. TJ Dixon led the Bulldogs at the plate – going a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Josh Rich (1-0) earned his first win of the season after shutting down the Trojans in one inning on the mound. Samford closer Wyatt Burns saved his ninth game of the season, which leads the country.

QUOTABLE
"It was a disappointing finish to a well-played game," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "Andrew Crane was outstanding, it was the best game he's played. We have a big weekend coming up, and we're going to head home and get ready."

SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Brandon Lockridge tied his career-best 20-game reached base streak – he has reached safely in every game this season.

• Troy has not won at Samford since 2013 – which was also the last time the Trojans were able to sweep the season series with the Bulldogs.

• The Trojans now fall to 12-26 under coach Mark Smartt when they are out-hit by the opponent – 4-5 this season.

WHAT'S UP NEXT?
Troy returns home to host the first Sun Belt series of the season this weekend at Riddle-Pace Field against No. 15 UL-Lafayette. First pitch of the series opener is set for 6 p.m. Friday.