Trojans Fall to FGCU for First Loss of 2023

Tuesday, March 7

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

11-1

Florida Gulf Coast

11-2

FGCU

Troy

Trojans Fall to FGCU for First Loss of 2023

3/7/2023 10:03:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Base on balls were prevalent in the Trojan's 10-5 loss to FGCU Tuesday night as Troy fell for the first time in 2023. Trojan pitching finished walking 10 batters, with the Eagles capitalizing, hitting three home runs and scoring four runs in the top of the ninth to beat Troy from Riddle-Pace Field.

A one-run ball game in the ninth quickly turned into a five-run lead for the visitors as a walk with the bases loaded and a throwing error scored three runs. A base hit added another, and the Trojans were unable to overcome the deficit.

The Trojans (11-1) fall two games short of matching their best start in program history, winning 13 straight games. However, the 11 consecutive wins to start the 2023 season match the second-best start to a season in program history.

The Trojans had a three-run lead after the fifth inning after being down two runs in the first. However, a run in the sixth and three in the seventh for the Eagles saw the visitors the lead for good.

Coming into Tuesday, Lewis led the nation in RBIs and added to that tally with three more, finishing the night 2-3 with a bases-loaded triple. William Sullivan and Kyle Mock each picked up an RBI, with Sullivan scoring two runs.

Ben Thompson got the start and had his stuff working all night, striking out 12 batters, only allowing two hits and a two-run home run. Thompson would go 4.2 innings striking out the last five batters he faced.

FGCU (11-2) was led by Joe Kinker, who had a two-home run night and five RBIs. Despite striking out 18 times as a team, the Eagles made Trojan pitching work. Both teams left plenty of runners on base, with FGCU leaving nine and the Trojans leaving 10.

Coming in to protect a two-run lead in the seventh, Taiga Yamane (0-1) could not get the Trojans out of the inning, giving up the go-ahead three-run home run, picking up his first loss of the season.

Alejandro Valiente (1-0) got the win from the bullpen and got two outs on four pitches with a strikeout. Freshman Chase Kriebel got the start and went three innings, allowing three runs before giving way to the bullpen.

The Trojans saw an early deficit as FGCU jumped out to a 2-0 lead after a Kinker home run in the top of the first. Kinker became the all-time home run leader in FGCU history with the blast. His home run in the seventh proved to be the difference.

The Trojans had one hit through the first three innings, but their second hit was a big one. Having loaded the bases with three straight walks Sun Belt and National player of the week Lewis stepped into the batter's box. In a 2-2 count Lewis laced a triple down the right field line scoring all three base runners.

The Trojans didn't wait long to add to their lead as in the bottom of the fifth, they added two more as Sullivan doubled in the Trojans' fourth run extending his on-base streak to 12 games and would come around to score as Mock singled to push the lead to 5-2, but that would be all the scoring Troy would have in them.

These two teams will square off again on Wednesday, March 8, at 6 p.m. from Riddle-Pace Field.