Troy Uses Five-Run Third to Clinch Louisiana Series

Saturday, March 24

Lafayette, La.

2:00 PM

Troy University

16-7, 3-2

Louisiana

9-13, 1-4

Troy

Louisiana

Troy Uses Five-Run Third to Clinch Louisiana Series

3/24/2018 6:33:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Jace Sanders

LAFAYETTE – Troy took an early 7-0 lead with five runs in the top of the third and held on for an 8-5 victory over Louisiana to clinch the Sun Belt series at Russo Park Saturday afternoon.

Troy (16-7, 3-2) staved off a fierce comeback by the Ragin' Cajuns (9-13, 1-4) to clinch the series in Lafayette for the first time since 2012.

The five-run third started when Joey Denison squared for a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error to an absent third baseman plated two runs. Three batters after Denison scored on a wild pitch, Chase Smartt drove in two on a single up the middle to put Troy up by seven.

Smartt had already driven in one before his double – on a two-out double to open the scoring in the second inning. The junior finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored in the game.

Not to be outdone by his catcher, senior shortstop Matt Sanders turned in a 3-for-5 performance of his own. Sanders is 7-for-9 in the series with four runs scored, a double and a walk.

Daren Osby (3-0) stayed perfect after a strong start on the mound – holding the Cajuns hitless through the first 3.1 innings of work. Osby allowed three runs on five hits in five innings of work to earn the win.

The Trojans relied on CJ Carter to shut the door and he came through, earning his fourth save of the year. Carter worked 2.2 innings of one-hit, four strikeout work to close the game.

Louisiana outscored Troy, 5-1, down the stretch to cut into the seven-run deficit, but the rally fell just short. In fact, the Cajuns had the winning run at the plate with two outs in the ninth as the bases were loaded.

Jack Burk (2-3) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs – six earned – on five hits in 2.1 innings on the mound.

Quotable – Troy head coach Mark Smartt
"We got off to a great start, jumped on them early. They made a few mistakes and we capitalized. We hit a little bit of a relaxed point, but we came in and won two games. We found a way to come through today."

Noteworthy
• Chase Smartt went 3-for-5 to set a season-high – it was his first multi-hit game of 2018. Smartt also drove in three runs for his first multi-RBI game of the season, as well.

• Matt Sanders is 7-for-9 with four runs scored in the series after a 4-for-4 night Friday and a 3-for-5 day today. He now has 62 career multi-hit games in his four years.

• Troy won the series with Louisiana for just the third time in the history of the matchup – the first two coming at home in 2011 and in Lafayette in 2012.

On Deck
The Trojans are aiming for the first ever sweep of Louisiana Sunday afternoon. LHP Max Newton (1-0, 1.36) will get called on for the start at 1 p.m.