Troy Drops Final Game of Opening Weekend to Youngstown State

Sunday, February 21

Troy, Ala.

Noon

Troy University

3-1

Youngstown State

1-3

Youngstown State

Troy

Troy Drops Final Game of Opening Weekend to Youngstown State

2/21/2021 5:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy fell in game four of its Opening Weekend series against the Youngstown State Penguins on a beautiful, but windy Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field. The Penguins used a hot start to down the Trojans in a tight game, 4-2.

Troy finishes Opening Weekend with a 3-1 record and a series victory over the Penguins. Easton Kirk homered from the eighth spot in the lineup for the second consecutive game in the loss.

Youngstown State (1-3, 0-0 HL) used a big first inning to apply early pressure on the Trojans. Padraig O'Shaughnessy singled up the middle to score Phillip Glasser, who reached on a walk and then stole second. Andre Good then hit a two-RBI single through the right side to give the visitors a 3-0 lead after one.

The Penguins scored their final run of the game in the third inning on a solo home run by O'Shaughnessy.

Kirk's solo home run to left field finally got the Trojans on the board in the fifth. Two innings later, Nic Nolan continued his great start to the season with an RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to two.

Kyle Mock led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield single, bringing the tying run to the plate for the Trojans. Troy found itself with a runner on second with one out after Mock advanced on a balk, but failed to bring him home as the next two batters were retired.

Jon Snyder pitched five effective innings and gave up just one run as the winning pitcher for the Penguins. Gary Clift Jr. entered in the ninth to notch the save for Youngstown State.

DJ Wilkinson was tagged with the loss for the Trojans after allowing four runs in six innings. Wilkinson struggled early, but settled down and was effective later in his outing, forcing several pop-ups and quick innings for Troy defensively.

Matt Snell, Lance Johnson and Mason Kenney looked solid in their relief efforts, allowing just one hit over the final three innings.

Quotable – Head coach Mark Smartt
"Give Youngstown State credit, they played exceptionally well today, their starting pitcher was outstanding. We did some really good things in the game; we just couldn't get the runs across. Overall, 3-1 on the weekend and I'm certainly proud of this start, but we've got a lot of work to do to get better."

On Troy's Pitching
"After the first inning, I thought DJ was terrific. He settled down and through exceptionally well. Our bullpen today was great, we didn't give up a run after the third inning."

Notable

Troy is now 13-3 all-time and 10-2 at home against Youngstown State.
The Trojans are 19-5 on Opening Weekend in the Mark Smartt era.
Easton Kirk has a home run in both of his starts this season. He is the second Trojan, along with Clay Stearns, to homer in consecutive games this season.
Nic Nolan went 7-for-15 (.467) with two doubles and two RBIs in his debut weekend for the Trojans. The newcomer hit safely in all four games of the series.
Rigsby Mosley and Easton Kirk now own Troy's longest active hit streaks at five games dating back to last season.