Trojans Complete the Comeback to Take the Series Against Kennesaw State

Sunday, March 6

Troy, Ala.

1 p.m.

Troy University

7-5

Kennesaw State

8-3

Kennesaw State

Troy

Trojans Complete the Comeback to Take the Series Against Kennesaw State

3/6/2022 5:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala – After an early 6-0 deficit following two innings, the Trojans used nine unanswered runs to win 9-6 Sunday afternoon from Riddle-Pace field.

This is the first time since February 14, 2015, the Trojans (7-5) have overcome a six-run deficit and won a ball game. Troy last did it against Northwestern State, where they were down 7-1 and went on to win 8-7.

"We talked about mental toughness," head coach Skylar Meade said. "We took the fight to the game, and it was unbelievable what our guys did on all sides of the ball, and there was a lot of excellent execution throughout the game."

After being down 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Trojans put up five runs on three hits and smart baseball to tie the game and eventually take the lead.

Trey Leonard got things started with a leadoff double and was followed by Justin Kelly, who, in his second at-bat of the season, took the first pitch he saw and ripped a double into the gap between center and right field to bring Troy within one run.

After being down 0-2 in the count, Donovan Whibbs laced a single through the ride side to score Kelly and tie the game up for the first time since the first inning.

The Trojan bats didn't slow down there as Rigsby Mosley, who finished the day 2-4 and had three RBIs hit his first home run of the season earlier in the game and then laid down a perfect bunt. There was a play at the plate, but Whibbs had gotten under the tag to give Troy the lead.

Troy would score two more runs after taking advantage of a wild pitch and another sacrifice bunt from Cameron Gray gave Troy their ninth run.

Bay Witcher started the game for the Trojans but had a short afternoon as he was pulled after one inning allowing six hits giving up six runs in which five were earned and two walks.

Grayson Stewart came on in relief for Witcher and was solid out the gate. Stewart retired 10 batters in order, going four innings, only allowing two hits, and struck out four Owl batters.

Marquez Oates (1-0), who usually comes in to close out games for the Trojans, came on in the sixth inning and shut down the Kennesaw State offense. Oates went a career-high four innings pitched, allowing no runs on no hits with one walk while striking out a game-high five batters.

Kennesaw State (8-3) also went to their bullpen early after Owl starter Connor Housley walked six Trojan batters in one inning of work. Nathan Holler (2-1) picks up the loss giving up all five Trojan runs in the eighth inning.

Kennesaw State came out swinging as in the top of the first inning, and they sent 10 men to plate and scored five runs on five hits.

Troy had a chance to get some of those runs back as they were able to load the bases in part to three walks, but the Owls were able to get out of the jam after producing a weak ground ball from Caleb Bartolero.

Troy loaded the bases for the second straight inning and scratched off a couple of runs in part to a William Sullivan sacrifice fly and Mosley's fourth hit of the series to bring in his third RBI of the weekend to make the score 6-2.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Mosley once again connected for his first home run of the season that just kept carrying over the left-field wall to cut the lead in half. After coming in as a defensive replacement, Clay Sterns split the gap between center and right field to bring in Cameron Gray and the Trojan's fourth run.

The Trojan defense did its part to keep the game close as Whibbs threw out a runner at the plate, and Stearns followed by throwing out a Kennesaw State runner at second base in the sixth inning to hole Kennesaw State to six runs.

Up Next: The Trojans continue their trek across the state of Alabama as they get set to take on Jacksonville State on Tuesday, March 8 at 6 p.m.