Troy Drops Rubber Match to #15 UL Lafayette

Sunday, March 26

Troy, Ala.

1 PM

Troy University

13-10, 3-3

UL Lafayette

13-9, 4-2

UL Lafayette

Troy

Photo by: Joey Meredith

Troy Drops Rubber Match to #15 UL Lafayette

3/26/2017 4:15:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Jace Sanders

Box Score | Photo Gallery

TROY, Alabama – No. 15 UL Lafayette used six extra-base hits to defeat Troy, 7-2, in the rubber match of the Sun Belt series Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field.

Troy (13-10, 3-3) allowed three runs in the first inning and was not able to respond as it dropped the series to the Cajuns.

Four Trojans combined for four hits on a day where hits were at a premium. Matt Sanders drove in a run on a triple and Brandon Lockridge brought one home in the eighth to extend his reached base streak to 23 games.

Steven Whitaker reached base three times – on one hit and two walks – and Mack Hathcock doubled down the right field line in the ninth inning to give Troy a comeback chance.

Evan Hebert (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs – three earned – on five hits and four walks in 2.2 innings of work.

UL Lafayette (13-10, 4-2) hit three doubles, two triples and a home run to remain undefeated in series this season. Tyler Stover led the squad with a 3-for-4 day with two doubles and an RBI.

Hogan Harris (2-0) only allowed one run in five innings of two hit work to earn his second win of the season.

QUOTABLE
"They cruised through the game and we didn't respond; that's not acceptable at home," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "I really like our team. They have a chance to be really good, but they have to take the extra step to get to that point. We kept playing, but we have to start better."

SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Brandon Lockridge extended his on-base streak to a career-high 23 games with his RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning; he has now hit safely in 21-of-23 games this season.

• Matt Sanders recorded his fifth-career triple as he put the Trojans on the board with a three-bagger to center field in the third inning … it was just Troy's second triple of the season.

• Drew Frederic drew a walk in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend is on-base streak out to 15 games.

• Steven Whitaker reached safely in three of his four plate appearances in the game – two walks and a single. It marked the second time this season he reached base safely three times in a game.

WHAT'S UP NEXT?
The Sun Belt portion of the schedule continues for the Trojans with a series against UT-Arlington starting Friday in Texas. First pitch for the opener is set for 6:30 p.m. at Clay Gould Stadium as Troy looks to win their first ever series with the Mavericks.