Big Eighth Inning Propels Troy Past Kennesaw State

Friday, March 4

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

6-4

Kennesaw State

7-2

Kennesaw State

Troy

Big Eighth Inning Propels Troy Past Kennesaw State

3/4/2022 9:50:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – For the first time in 12 days, the Trojans returned to Riddle-Pace field and claimed victory after a four-run eighth inning propelled Troy to a 7-2 win over the visiting Kennesaw State Owls Friday night.

"It was a hard-fought game," head coach Skylar Meade said. "We got diverse offensively with what we did with the bunt and steal game to create pressure on them and allowed ourselves to expand our lead and create more breathing room."

It was a one-run game until the eighth, then Troy (6-4) decided to bat around and score four runs to pull away from the Owls (7-2).

The eighth inning started with a Caleb Bartolero single, in which he was able to advance to second after an Easton Kirk sacrifice bunt. Then, after a disciplined at-bat by catcher Clay Stearns that saw him draw a walk, senior Rigsby Mosley ripped a double to right field and began the Trojan big inning.

Troy would continue to turn to play small ball as Trey Leonard laid down a perfect bunt that was right in between first and second for a single scoring Stearns which was followed by the Trojan's third sacrifice bunt in the inning by Jesse Hall to score Mosley from third and seal the deal.

Hall led the Trojans swinging a hot bat as he finished the night with two hits and three runs batted in along with Mosley, who ended the night with two hits and an RBI.

In his third start of the season, sophomore Garrett Gainous (1-1) earns his first win of the year, going five innings, only allowing two runs on six hits while striking out seven and walking three.

Jack Myers (0-1) picks up the loss for Kennesaw State after throwing 83 pitches in five innings, giving up three runs on four hits, a walk, and only striking out two.

The Trojans remain a perfect 6-0 when scoring first this season as they got things started in the second inning when Brandon Schrepf put the ball in play and scored Clay Stearns, followed by a Hall double for his first RBI of the night.

A Hudson Mimbs solo homerun got Kennesaw State on the board to bring the Owls within one in the top of the third, but it was quickly a two-run game again as Hall ripped a single to left field to make it 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth.

The Owls again answered the Trojans in the top of the fifth with a Zac Corbin single, but one run would be all they get as Gainous worked out of a jam getting a soft pop up to end the inning.

Kyle Gamble came out for the sixth inning and was fantastic in his 2.2 innings of work. Gamble held the Owls hitless and struck out five as he would eventually turn it over to Marquez Oates, who earned the four-out save for his third save of the season.

Up Next: The series with Kennesaw State continues tomorrow, Saturday, March 5, at 3 p.m., with freshman Brady Fuller toeing the mound for the Trojans.