Troy Sweeps Doubleheader; Series with Gardner-Webb

Saturday, March 10

Troy, Ala.

1:00 PM

Troy University

10-5

Gardner-Webb

10-5

Gardner-Webb

Troy

Troy Sweeps Doubleheader; Series with Gardner-Webb

3/10/2018 6:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (Game One)Box Score (Game Two)

By: Jace Sanders

TROY, Alabama – Troy powered past Gardner-Webb, 6-3 and 6-0, to sweep Saturday's twin bill and the three-game, non-conference series at Riddle-Pace Field.

Troy (11-5) used strong pitching in both games, holding the Runnin' Bulldogs (10-6) to just three runs in the doubleheader. Meanwhile at the plate, the Trojans racked up 15 hits and strung together 12 combined runs – following last night's 16-hit performance.

Game One – Troy 6, Gardner-Webb 3
In the first leg of the twin bill, the Trojans got their first quality start of the day from Daren Osby (1-0). After a rocky first where the Runnin' Bulldogs scored two runs, Osby gave up just six hits and struck out four over seven innings of work.

Jackson Cofer (1) took over in the eighth and earned his first career save, allowing two hits and striking out three in two innings.

Local product Joey Denison kept racking up RBIs with two as a part of a 2-for-4 game one. Denison drove in both on his seventh double – 10^th extra-base hit – of the season.

Troy saw production up and down the lineup, as seven of the nine starters reached base safely. Four of the Trojans' six runs were driven in by players batting in the fifth spot or lower.

Rigsby Mosley ripped his first career triple and drove in a run in the bottom of the eighth. Mosley was then driven in by Chase Smartt – who made his return to the playing field this weekend after missing 10 games with an injury. Drew Frederic and Brody Binder picked up RBIs in the game, as well.

Starter Bradley Hallman (2-1) pitched seven quality innings on the mound – 107 pitches – striking out five Trojans while allowing four runs – three earned – on six hits.

Game Two – Troy 6, Gardner-Webb 0
Sophomore Max Newton (1-0) has seemingly settled into his role as the Trojans' Sunday starter. Newton picked up his first win of the season after pitching six innings of four-hit, shutout work on the mound.

The starter then turned the ball over to a bullpen that was just as impressive. Zack Lightsey, Levi Thomas and Rush Hixon allowed just three base runners – one hit and two walks – and struck out five in the final three innings of the game.

Despite the top of the Troy lineup not performing like they have been so far in 2018, the Trojans still strung together seven hits and four different players drove in a run to produce on the offensive end.

Isaac Campbell (2-1) went just three innings and allowed six runs – three earned – on four hits to suffer the loss in game two.

After scoring two runs in the first frame of the day, Gardner-Webb scored just one run over the remaining 17 innings of baseball. Chandler Redmond led the Bulldogs with a 2-for-4 game one and drove in two runs.

Quotable – Troy head coach Mark Smartt
"Really proud of the sweep, that's a good baseball team over there. Anytime you go 3-0 at home, you have to be pleased. I really like the lineup combination; the top of our lineup has been outstanding. This afternoon, they weren't what they have been and we still found ways to put up runs."

Sound "Smartt" with Your Friends
Troy improved to 10-1 (.909) at home this season. The Trojans were 18-10 (.642) at Riddle-Pace Field in 2017.

Noteworthy
• Matt Sanders extended his hitting streak with a single in game one, then lost it in game two at a career-long 23 games.

• Sanders scored a run in both games for his 25^th and 26^th runs of the season – he came into the series ranked third nationally in the category. The senior has now scored a run in 10-straight games for the Trojans and in 15-of-16 games this season.

• Joey Denison drove in runs in both games to take his season total to 25. The senior has recorded at least one RBI in each of the last nine games. Denison also turned in his team-leading seventh multi-hit game of the year.

• The series sweep was Troy's second of the early season – the Trojans swept UT Martin in four games on opening weekend.

• Brandon Lockridge and Drew Frederic both stole their ninth bases of the season, which leads the team – the two are a perfect 9-for-9 this year.

On Deck
Troy will face one last test before the conference season kicks off next weekend as it will head to Regions Field for a meeting with in-state rival UAB. First pitch in Birmingham is set for 4 p.m. Tuesday.