Trojan Comeback Falls Short After UTA Walk-off

Saturday, March 26

Arlington, Texas

2 p.m.

Troy University

15-7, 0

UT Arlington

8-14, 0

Troy

UT Arlington

Trojan Comeback Falls Short After UTA Walk-off

3/26/2022 6:14:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

ARLINGTON, Texas. – A late Trojan rally wasn't enough as UT-Arlington plated two runs in the bottom of the ninth for a 7-6 walk-off Saturday afternoon from Clay Gould Ball Park.

After entering the game as a pinch hitter, Kyle Mock launched a three-run go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth to give Troy (15-7, 3-2) the one-run lead entering the final frame.

A UTA (8-14, 2-3) leadoff single put the pressure on the Trojans in the bottom of the ninth as a double and intentional walk loaded the bases with nobody out.

Kyle Gamble (0-1) was given the loss after being pulled for Keaton Fuller, who struggled to find the zone as he walked in the tying run on four pitches. After a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Maverick's Oscar Pounce hit a fly ball deep enough for the runner to tag and score the winning run.

Jack Hagan (1-0) earns his first win of the season after getting the final two outs following the Mock home run.

In his sixth appearance of the season, Trojan starter Brady Fuller went five innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with only one walk and five strikeouts.

Troy was the first strike in the top of the third as a leadoff single by Rigsby Mosley came around to score after being moved to third with ground balls from Trey Leonard and Donovan Whibbs.

Sullivan picked up where he left off in his last at-bat last night and singled up the middle to bring in the Trojan's first run of the ball game.

The Mavericks used a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth to get to Fuller after two singles brought the tying run home. A nifty play by third baseman Easton Kirk was vital in limiting the damage to only one as he scooped a ground ball, stepped on the bag at third, and threw to first to get the inning-ending double play.

The Trojans couldn't capitalize in the top half of the sixth after getting Sullivan and Jesse Hall on base with singles to start the inning.

With the base loaded, a weak ground ball from Clay Stearns to second base produced a close play at first, but the Maverick defender made a nice play to flip the ball out of glove just in time to keep the game knotted up at one.

UTA went on to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth after back-to-back singles of their own forced Troy to make a change and bring in Kyle Gamble. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners up into scoring position, followed by a balk to bring in the go-ahead run. A squeeze play was then put on to give UTA a two-run lead.
Gamble finished with a final line of three innings pitched, four runs on four hits, a walk, and three strikeouts.

Troy looked to get those run back in the seventh as Mosley got the inning started with his program leading 59^th career double, and Leonard followed with a single. Sullivan picked up his second RBI of the afternoon to get the Trojans back within one run, but nothing more came of the inning with two more runners left on base for Troy.

In total, Troy left nine men on base in the ball game.

With two outs in the top of the eighth, Leonard stepped up for Troy and delivered an opposite-field single, bringing in Easton Kirk, who never stopped running from second base to tie the ball game at 3-3 and the first of two Trojan rallies.

The Trojans have lost back-to-back games for only the third time all year with the defeat.

Up Next: Troy will try and win game three tomorrow, Sunday, March 27, at 1 p.m. as they wrap up the series.