The Journey Begins: Troy Hosts Central Michigan to Start 2019 Season

Friday, February 15

Troy, Ala.

6:00 PM

Troy University

Central Michigan

The Journey Begins: Troy Hosts Central Michigan to Start 2019 Season

2/14/2019 3:04:00 PM | Baseball

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Alabama – The long-anticipated 2019 Troy baseball season kicks off Friday with a four-game series against Central Michigan at Riddle-Pace Field; first pitches are set for 6 p.m. in the opener, a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday and an early 11 a.m. in the finale Sunday.

It has been over 250 days since the Trojans stepped off the field at the NCAA Athens Regional in June. Ever since then, a young and talented Troy ball club has been chomping at the bit to get back onto the diamond – and it will finally get its chance this weekend.

In head coach Mark Smartt's fourth year at the helm, he will look to a group of four seniors – Chase Smartt, Rush Hixon, Sadler Goodwin and Cole Prestegard – along with a pair of all-conference performers in Drew Frederic and Rigsby Mosley to lead the Trojans on and off the field.

Frederic loaded up on preseason awards this year following a spectacular sophomore campaign last season. He is Troy's top returner in batting average, doubles, homers, runs-batted-in and stolen bases. Reigning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American Rigsby Mosley will aim to follow up a year that included a .322 batting average and over 50 RBI.

Toeing the rubber on Opening Night will be sophomore RHP Levi Thomas – fanned seven batters in his winners' bracket start against No. 8 Georgia in the Regional. In game two, Coach Smartt will call on freshman phenom RHP Bay Witcher for the start. Witcher posted a 10-0 record and a 0.24 ERA his senior year on his way to earning High School All-American honors.

The final two games of the series, junior southpaw Max Newton and senior two-way player Sadler Goodwin will start on the mound for Troy. Backing the starters up in the bullpen are quite a few experienced arms, highlighted by juniors Zack Lightsey, Lance Johnson and Ryan Fultz. Senior and local product Rush Hixon will be called upon as the closer to start the season.

SCOUTING THE CHIPPEWAS
Central Michigan will start a new era under first year head coach Jordan Bischel this weekend. The Chippewas are returning six position players and boast a veteran pitching staff, led by fifth-year senior Pat Leatherman. The squad was picked to finish fourth in the MAC preseason coaches' poll following a fourth-place finish in the league last season.

PROMOTIONS
Friday: Opening Night

National Anthem performed by the Sound of the South trumpet ensemble
First 500 fans receive a Troy baseball poster
First pitch by Sun Belt career ERA leader Andrew Crane

Singles Awareness Night

Miss out on a Valentine's Day Date? Grab a friend and head to the ballpark with buy one, get one FREE tickets!
Text SINGLE to 334-670-3681 to be entered into our prize drawings. For every single hit by a Troy player, fans will win a prize.

Saturday

First 500 fans receive a FREE Conecuh Sausage dog

Kids Takeover Riddle-Pace Field

Free admissions for all kids ages 12 & under
Bounce house at the ballpark all day long
Kids serve as guest PA announcers

Sunday

T-Roy's Team members receive free admission with their membership ID card
All kids get to run the bases after the game

BROADCAST INFO
Online: Facebook.com/TroyAthletics
Radio: WTBF 96.3 (Friday & Sunday) / 94.7 (Saturday)
            Online: TroyTrojans.com
Live Stats: TroyStats.com

SERIES HISTORY
Central Michigan (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Overall Series: Troy leads 4-3
            At Troy: 4-3
Streak: Troy W2
Last: Feb. 23, 2014
            Troy won 3-2 (split series)

PITCHING MATCHUPS (Troy v. Central Michigan; 2018 Stats)
Game One:
RHP Levi Thomas (2-0, 1.96) v. RHP Pat Leatherman (2-5, 3.51)

Game Two:
RHP Bay Witcher (N/A) v. LHP Tyler Hankins (2-5, 4.60)

Game Three:
LHP Max Newton (2-1, 4.17) v. RHP Cam Brown (4-1, 4.97)

Game Four:
RHP Sadler Goodwin (3-4, 6.95) v. RHP Zach Kohn (1-1, 5.32)