Crane Shines Again in Troy’s Series-Opening Victory Over ULM

Friday, May 12

Troy, Ala.

7 PM

Troy University

28-21, 13-12

ULM

12-38, 6-19

ULM

Troy

Photo by: Colin Edwards

Crane Shines Again in Troy’s Series-Opening Victory Over ULM

5/12/2017 10:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Game Highlights

By: Jace Sanders

Box Score | Game Highlights

TROY, Alabama – Andrew Crane worked six shutout innings to extend his consecutive scoreless inning streak to 36.2 innings and to lead Troy to a 9-1 victory over ULM in the opening game of the Sun Belt series Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field.

Crane (6-1) struck out six and scattered only three hits in his six innings of work to give Troy (28-21, 13-12) its fourth consecutive Friday night win.

Matt Sanders, Mason Rogers and Chase Smartt each went 3-for-5 in the game and drove in a combined five runs for the Trojans – Sanders (1), Rogers (3) and Smartt (1).

Brandon Lockridge (2-for-5) and Trevor Davis (2-for-5) turned in multi-hit games, as well, to aid Troy's 15-hit performance – Davis ripped his first career triple in the fourth inning to put the Trojans on the board.

ULM (12-38, 6-19) got a hot start from Chase Beal (3-7), who allowed only two hits and fanned four in the first three innings of the game. However, Beal suffered the loss after giving up four runs on five hits in four innings of work.

Cade Stone led the Warhawks at the plate with a 1-for-3 day that included a walk.

QUOTABLE
"I've run out of adjectives to describe what he does for our team," Troy head coach Mark Smartt. "Our defense is playing above their head to help keep the games scoreless, as well. The streak has inspired our team. I like the way we're swinging the bats right now; our lineup is starting to lengthen out and is getting hot at the right time."

"It gave me a lot of confidence to know that my defense is behind me making plays," Andrew Crane said about his scoreless inning streak. "Coach told me to quit nibbling and just throw the ball; it worked."

"I haven't been chasing anything out of the zone," right fielder Mason Rogers said about his recent success at the plate. "I've been waiting on my pitch and figuring out how to drive it. I believe we're getting hot; we've had a dominant pitching staff all year and our hitting is coming around."

SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Catcher Chase Smartt threw out potential base stealers in both the first and second innings; he has now thrown out 13 runners on 42 stolen base attempts this season (31.0 percent).

• Andrew Crane extended his consecutive scoreless inning streak to 36.2 innings with six shutout innings against the Warhawks. Crane struck out six and scattered three hits. In five starts, - 37 IP, 2 ER, 0.49 ERA, 20 H (4.9/9), 38 Ks (9.2/9), 9 BB (2.2)

• Steven Whitaker stole his team-leading 19th base of the season in the fifth inning, it is the most stolen bases by a Trojan since Clay Holcomb stole 23 bases during the 2015 season.

• Trevor Davis ripped his first-career triple in the fourth inning of the game; it drove home Justin Friend for Troy's first run of the game. He added a double for his team-leading 21st extra-base hit of the season.

• Chase Smartt drove in a run and finished with three hits in the ball game for his ninth multi-hit and fourth three-hit game of the season.

• Mason Rogers continued his hot hitting with three more hits for his fifth straight game with multiple hits. Rogers has raised his batting average from .218 to .283 since April 29 as he has multiple hits in six of the last seven games.

• Brandon Lockridge added two more hits to push his Sun Belt leading total to 74 on the season; he has hit safely in 45-of-49 games this year and has multiple hits 25 different games.

WHAT'S UP NEXT?
Troy will go for the series win behind the arm of senior lefty Austin Crook (5-2, 3.72). First pitch for game two is set for 3 p.m. Saturday.