Troy Splits a Couple of Close Contests

Saturday, February 16

Troy, Ala.

1:00 PM

Troy University

2-0

Central Michigan (DH)

0-2

Central Michigan

Troy

2/16/2019 8:33:00 PM | Baseball

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

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Alabama – The back-and-forth battles between Troy and Central Michigan continued on Saturday, as the two squads split the Opening Weekend doubleheader at Riddle-Pace Field.

The Trojans (2-1) took the first leg, 7-6, after trailing by five runs in the second inning. Then, in the nightcap, the Chippewas (1-2) earned their first victory under new head coach Jordan Bischel, 5-3.

Game One
Much like game one of the series, Troy was able to earn its second win of the young season thanks to clutch late-game at-bats – this time, it was Drew Frederic who pulled the Trojans through. In a 6-6 game, Frederic laced a two-out, RBI double down the left field line in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win.

Trailing 0-5 early, the Trojan offense hit its stride with a five-run response in the bottom of the second inning – sparked by a three-run blast off the bat of freshman Tanner Jackson, who finished the day 2-for-3 with four RBI.

The other two runs in the frame scored on a double by Rigsby Mosley – the sophomore led Troy's 14-hit effort with a 4-for-4 game. Frederic, Jackson, Mosley, Reed Smith and Austin Garofalo each posted multi-hit games.

In a solid relief stint, Lance Johnson (1-0) earned the victory on the mound for the Trojans – fanning two around one hit in 1.1 innings of work. Friday's game-winner Ryan Fultz dealt two strong innings out of the bullpen with four strikeouts to keep the game tied.

Central Michigan struck first in the contest, scoring five runs in the top of the second inning highlighted by a three-run triple from Zavier Warren. Warren added a homer in the fifth to lead the Chippewas at the plate with a 2-for-4, four-RBI day at the plate. Reliever Patty Jordan (0-1) took the loss for CMU, despite striking out five batters in three innings.

Game Two
Just when it seemed that good fortune was smiling upon the Trojans, the mood went sour fairly quickly when Troy was the first victim of a new rule change in NCAA baseball this season. Down two with two outs in the ninth and the tying run at the plate, CMU booted a can-of-corn pop up to give the Trojans an extra life at the end.

Pinch hitter Austin Garofalo stepped to the plate with the tying run in scoring position and worked a full count at the plate. The seventh pitch of the at-bat caught Garofalo on the shoulder blade, but home plate umpire Chase Bennett ruled that the batter leaned into the pitch and per the new rule was called out, ending the game.

The two-run win for the Chippewas was sparked by a three-run top of the seventh on back-to-back RBI base hits from Griffin Lockwood-Powell and Evan Kratt. Lockwood-Powell finished 2-for-5 with three runs driven in to lead the CMU bats.

Responding to an early deficit, senior Sadler Goodwin tattooed the scoreboard in right field with an RBI double in the first to open the scoring. Later trailing by four, Troy drew within striking distance in the bottom of the seventh off a two-RBI single for Reed Smith, but were unable to pull back even.

Starter Max Newton (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound for the Trojans after giving up two earned runs on four hits in five innings of work. Central Michigan's Cam Brown (1-0) fanned six and allowed just one run in six innings to pick up the win, and Logan Buczkowski (1) earned the first save of his career.

Sound "Smartt" With Your Friends
Reaching base in all five at-bats in the first leg of the doubleheader and in his first of game two, Rigsby Mosley became the first Trojan to reach in six or more consecutive at-bats since former Trojan Brandon Lockridge did so in May 2017.

Notable
• Rigsby Mosley racked up six hits in eight at-bats in the twin bill Saturday, three of which were doubles. Mosley hit just 12 doubles in 57 games all of last year.

• JUCO transfer Reed Smith has started his career in a Troy uniform on the right foot, recording four hits in 10 at-bats with a homer, four RBI and three runs scored.

• Troy guaranteed at least a split in the opening series with its win in the first leg of the doubleheader. The Trojans have not lost a season-opening series since dropping 2-of-3 to No. 4 Arkansas to kick off the 2007 season.

Up Next
Troy will play to take the series outright with a rare Sunday morning series finale at Riddle-Pace Field. Head coach Mark Smartt will call on senior RHP Sadler Goodwin to start on the mound for the Trojans, with first pitch set for 11 a.m.