Troy University Athletics
Friday, February 17
Troy, Ala.
4 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Evansville
Troy Hosts Evansville to Open 2023 Campaign
2/16/2023 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – Troy baseball returns to the new and improved Riddle-Pace Field as they get set to welcome the University of Evansville Aces on Opening Weekend for a three-game series to begin the 2023 season.
The season gets underway on Friday, Feb. 17, with the first pitch set for 4 p.m. Games two and three of the series will each start at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
"There is no better time in college baseball than Opening Weekend," head coach Skylar Meade said. "Our guys, like most other programs, are tired of competing against one another and need another opponent in Riddle-Pace Field. Evansville is a program that has hit its stride with Coach Carroll. Our hands will be full this weekend, which is precisely what you want as real competitors. See who rises to the challenge, and hope that the fans show up in droves to see the 2023 version of Troy baseball."
This will be the first time the two programs have faced each other in program history, with the Trojans looking to win their sixth straight opening-day game. Troy has not lost the first game of the season since 2017.
What: Troy vs. Evansville
Date: Feb. 17 / 18 / 19
Time: 4 p.m. / 1 p.m. / 1 p.m.
Location: Troy, Ala. – Riddle-Pace Field
Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network
Audio: TroyTrojans.com/listen
Talent: Barry McKnight & Jerry Miller
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
With 520 strikeouts during the 2022 season, Trojan pitching led the Sun Belt Conference, ranking fifth all-time in Troy program history. In addition, it was the first time since 2007 that Troy had led the conference in strikeouts. With the pitching expertise of head coach Skylar Meade, the Trojan's pitching staff had the highest K per nine innings in program history. In 496 innings pitched, the Trojans have struck out 520 batters resulting in 9.5 strikeouts per game. That ranked 51st in the entire country and first in the Sun Belt.
Meade and his staff attacked the transfer portal during the offseason with 13 new additions to go along with five freshmen. Zach Fruit, one of those transfers, is slated to start on Saturday for the Trojans. Coming from Eastern Michigan, Fruit started in 14 contests on the bump for EMU in 2022. He tallied a team-best 65 strikeouts in 67.2 innings and tied for the team lead in wins.
Seniors Caleb Bartolero and Clay Stearns were named captains in the offseason and bring a wealth of experience behind the plate. The Trojans ranked first in the nation in strikes looking plus and fourth in the country in strikes saved above average.
Know Your Foe- Evansville
The Aces were picked third in the MVC preseason coaches' poll after finishing the 2022 regular season 32-24 and 14-6 in the conference, good enough for second.
Four Aces were selected to the 13-member preseason all-MVC team, the most of any team in the MVC. Selected to the preseason team were junior pitcher Nick Smith, senior outfielder Mark Shallenberger, senior third baseman Brent Widder, and junior shortstop Simon Scherry.
Pitching Matchups
G1 – RHP Brady Fuller vs. RHP Nick Smith
G2 – RHP Zach Fruit vs. LHP Tyler Denu
G3 – RHP Grayson Stewart vs. LHP Donovan Schultz
The season gets underway on Friday, Feb. 17, with the first pitch set for 4 p.m. Games two and three of the series will each start at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
"There is no better time in college baseball than Opening Weekend," head coach Skylar Meade said. "Our guys, like most other programs, are tired of competing against one another and need another opponent in Riddle-Pace Field. Evansville is a program that has hit its stride with Coach Carroll. Our hands will be full this weekend, which is precisely what you want as real competitors. See who rises to the challenge, and hope that the fans show up in droves to see the 2023 version of Troy baseball."
This will be the first time the two programs have faced each other in program history, with the Trojans looking to win their sixth straight opening-day game. Troy has not lost the first game of the season since 2017.
What: Troy vs. Evansville
Date: Feb. 17 / 18 / 19
Time: 4 p.m. / 1 p.m. / 1 p.m.
Location: Troy, Ala. – Riddle-Pace Field
Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network
Audio: TroyTrojans.com/listen
Talent: Barry McKnight & Jerry Miller
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
With 520 strikeouts during the 2022 season, Trojan pitching led the Sun Belt Conference, ranking fifth all-time in Troy program history. In addition, it was the first time since 2007 that Troy had led the conference in strikeouts. With the pitching expertise of head coach Skylar Meade, the Trojan's pitching staff had the highest K per nine innings in program history. In 496 innings pitched, the Trojans have struck out 520 batters resulting in 9.5 strikeouts per game. That ranked 51st in the entire country and first in the Sun Belt.
Meade and his staff attacked the transfer portal during the offseason with 13 new additions to go along with five freshmen. Zach Fruit, one of those transfers, is slated to start on Saturday for the Trojans. Coming from Eastern Michigan, Fruit started in 14 contests on the bump for EMU in 2022. He tallied a team-best 65 strikeouts in 67.2 innings and tied for the team lead in wins.
Seniors Caleb Bartolero and Clay Stearns were named captains in the offseason and bring a wealth of experience behind the plate. The Trojans ranked first in the nation in strikes looking plus and fourth in the country in strikes saved above average.
Know Your Foe- Evansville
The Aces were picked third in the MVC preseason coaches' poll after finishing the 2022 regular season 32-24 and 14-6 in the conference, good enough for second.
Four Aces were selected to the 13-member preseason all-MVC team, the most of any team in the MVC. Selected to the preseason team were junior pitcher Nick Smith, senior outfielder Mark Shallenberger, senior third baseman Brent Widder, and junior shortstop Simon Scherry.
Pitching Matchups
G1 – RHP Brady Fuller vs. RHP Nick Smith
G2 – RHP Zach Fruit vs. LHP Tyler Denu
G3 – RHP Grayson Stewart vs. LHP Donovan Schultz
Players Mentioned
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