Kavanagh Seals Victory for Troy over Samford

Tuesday, April 11

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

23-11

Samford

18-15

Samford

Troy

Kavanagh Seals Victory for Troy over Samford

4/11/2023 10:13:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – In a tie ball game in the bottom of the eighth inning Ethan Kavanagh lifted the Trojans to a midweek victory as he singled to center field, bringing home the winning run as the Trojans went on to beat Samford 7-6 Tuesday night from Riddle-Pace Field.

Getting the start in right field for the first time this season, the junior out of Cincinnati, Ohio, had two hits on the night with his single in the eighth, giving Troy the lead for good and his 24^th RBI of the season.

Troy (23-11) trailed on two different occasions and, on two separate occasions, came back to tie the game with home runs. First, Donovan Whibbs in the fourth tied the game at four, and then in the seventh, Tremayne Cobb Jr. hit a two-run shot to tie the game at six. It was each their third home run this season. Cobb Jr. finished with a three-hit night as his bat continues to heat up as he makes it three straight games with an extra-base hit. Caleb Bartolero had his 11^th multiple-RBI game of the season after finishing with two RBIs in the first.

Samford (18-15) saw a four-RBI night from Andrew Bennett, who hit two home runs. Getting the loss is Turner Thompson, as in one inning of work, he allowed three hits walked one, and struck out two while giving up the winning run to Kavanagh.

Ben Thompson (4-0) of Troy got the victory as he pitched two shutout innings of baseball to end the game. Kristian Asbury made his second start of the year and went two innings but allowed four runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

The Trojan bullpen did their job of not letting the game get out of hand, with Ryan Pettys, Taiga Yamane, and Brandon Schrepf all holding it down in the middle innings. Then, with two runs across already in the sixth, Schrepf came in with the bases loaded and got a strikeout to end the threat and keep Troy within striking distance.

The two teams combined for six runs in the first frame, with Samford jumping to a four-run lead courtesy of a three-run home run. However, the Trojans responded with two of their own to cut the deficit in half as Bartolero flared a single over shortstop to get Troy on the board.

The Trojans threatened for more with the bases loaded in the bottom of the second and Shane Lewis at the plate. However, Lewis was hit by the pitch and brought in the third run of the evening and his 49^th RBI.

The Trojans would get the tying run from Whibbs and his third home run of the season as he sent the ball 368 feet over the right field wall.

The Bulldogs responded with a home run of their own two innings later to regain the lead as Bennett hit his second home run of the game, making it 6-4.

Troy would not let the deficit last long as Cobb Jr., with two outs, hit the Trojans' second game-tying home run of the night with a two-run shot to even things at six apiece.

The weekend series will take Troy to Lafayette, Louisiana, to take on the Ragin Cajuns for a three-game set beginning on Friday, April 14, at 6 p.m., followed by games Saturday and Sunday.