Mock’s Heroics gives Troy a Sweep of ULM

Saturday, March 25

Troy, Ala.

2 p.m.

Troy University

16-7, 0

ULM

8-16, 0

ULM

Troy

Mock’s Heroics gives Troy a Sweep of ULM

3/25/2023 10:51:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – It was a feisty Saturday in Sun Belt Conference play as eight ejections occurred across the doubleheader. However, the Trojans kept their composure for two come-from-behind wins sweeping the day and the series beating the Warhawks 7-5 in game one and 4-3 in game two from Riddle-Pace Field.

The Trojans (17-7, 3-3) used seven unanswered runs across three innings and a stellar pitching performance from Ben Thompson in relief to secure the series in the first game of the day.

More excitement came in game two as Kyle Mock hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh before closing the game out with his defense in the top of the ninth as he threw out what would be the game-tying run at the plate, securing the win.

The Warhawks (8-17, 0-6) leave Troy winless in conference play, with the Trojans now winning the last six meetings.

Game One
Troy found themselves down 3-0 in the first two innings, with starter Zach Fruit having to leave the ball game after taking a line drive off his ankle. Ben Thompson (2-0) entered in relief and pitched four scoreless innings striking out nine batters and picking up his second win of the season.

The Trojan offense came alive in the fourth inning as Caleb Bartolero launched his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot to pull Troy within a run. Things picked up shortly after as Brandon Schrepf stepped up to bat and had to duck from the first pitch that was thrown behind his head. Both ULM's head coach and pitcher were ejected as a result.

Shane Lewis picked up his 42^nd RBI of the year from a sacrifice fly to tie the ball game in the fifth. The first and final lead of the game for the Trojans came in the sixth as Bartolero and Schrepf singled, and Brady Moore loaded the bases after reaching on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt. In his first game starting at first base Matt Mercer drove in the go-ahead run with a single to right field, giving him his first RBI as a Trojan.

More runs came courtesy of a Lance Gardiner RBI double. Gardiner drove in two runs, with the third coming from heads-up base running by Mercer, who saw the first baseman bobble the relay and make a dash for home, scoring the fourth run of the inning.

Two runs in the top of the seventh weren't enough for ULM, as Noah Manning came in to pitch with two outs in the seventh inning and finished the game earning his sixth save of the season.

Carson Orton (1-3) came on in relief for starter Chipper Menard. Orton gave up five runs on five hits in two innings to get the loss.

Game Two
A pitching battle between Grayson Stewart of Troy and Hollis Huff of ULM took place early in game two. Stewart went six innings, only allowing the three runs striking out eight batters, to keep Troy within striking distance.

The fourth inning for both teams saw runs scored as the visitors jumped out to another 3-0 lead as a Cardell Thibodeaux double and a Jake Haggard home run got ULM on the board. Troy responded with two of their own, as Bartolero again made things happen with a leadoff double. Hudson Hartsfield only needed to see one pitch before he tripled in Bartolero. Brooks Bryan drove in the second run reaching on a fielder's choice.

Both teams put zeros across the board until the bottom of the seventh. Following two quick outs, Lewis, in a 1-2 count, singled to center field, bringing up Mock. Mock got a pitch he liked and sent it 416 feet over the right field wall giving Troy the lead.

Following Stewart, Kristian Asbury (2-0) came on and held ULM to one hit, striking out five more batters. A single and a walk in the top of the ninth forced the Trojans to go to their bullpen again, bringing on Schrepf to close it out.

With one out, a wild pitch had put the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at second. With Haggard at the plate, Schrepf produced a fly ball to right field, where Mock got under it and, with his momentum carrying himself toward home plate, threw a two-hopper to Bryan, who applied the tag at the plate for the series-ending double play. It took a minute for the celebrations to ensue as the play went to replay, where it was ultimately confirmed, giving Troy a dramatic win.

The Trojans will hit the road for back-to-back midweek games. First, on Tuesday, March 28, Troy travels to Montgomery to take on Alabama State from Riverwalk Stadium at 6 p.m. Then, on Wednesday, March 29, it's a rematch with Florida A&M in Tallahassee.