Troy University Athletics
Thursday, May 18
Troy, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
37-17, 0
3
vs
2
Appalachian State
26-22, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Appalachian State
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
5
0
Troy
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
X
3
8
1
Trojans Edge Past Appalachian State, Open Series with a 3-2 Victory
5/18/2023 10:33:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – For the 13th time this season, Troy found themselves in a one-run game and, for the 11th time, came away victorious after opening the series against Appalachian State with a 3-2 victory from Riddle-Pace Field Thursday night.
All three runs for the Trojans came in the bottom of the second when Ethan Kavanagh delivered the game's first runs, taking the first pitch he saw for a single to right field, driving in two runs. Then, with Tremayne Cobb Jr. on third, a fielder's choice from Kyle Mock scored the Trojans' third run in the inning and the last of the game for Troy.
The Mountaineers chipped away in the top of the third and fourth, scoring a run in each frame, but Trojan pitching was dialed in and didn't allow Appalachian State back into the game.
With the victory, Troy (37-17, 17-11) moves into third place in the conference standings with two regular season games to go ahead of the conference tournament. Troy remains 35th in RPI.
Grayson Stewart (9-2) had his best stuff working just as he has all season. He went seven innings allowing only two runs on five hits, recording eight strikeouts. It was the second time Stewart went seven innings and the fourth time he has recorded eight or more strikeouts.
The outing was the seventh quality start of the season for Stewart, and with the win, it is the most by a Trojan since 2021.
Following Stewart out of the Trojan bullpen were Matt Mercer and Noah Manning. Mercer and Manning combined for two innings, only allowing a single base runner to reach via a walk. Manning came on with one out in the ninth and a runner on and shut the door on his way to his 10th save of the season.
His 10 saves on the season are the most by a Trojan since Marc Skinner had 12 in 2017.
The Trojan offense had a hit in five straight innings, but outside the second couldn't take advantage. Kavanagh and Caleb Bartolero each had two hits on the night, as all of Troy's base knocks were singles.
Appalachian State starter Xander Hamilton (8-3) came into Thursday's start only having lost two games this season. However, the Trojans added a third to his resume after knocking him for three runs on six hits in five innings of work. Hamilton walked one and struck out six after throwing 101 pitches.
The Mountaineers left seven men on base as Dylan Rodgers finished with two hits to lead the team. A CJ Boyd home run in the top of the third got the Mountaineers on the board to cut into the lead, but no more damage would come in the frame.
Appalachian State, once again, plated a run in the top of the fourth after two hits. But, with runners on first and second and only one out, Stewart worked around the threat with a strikeout and foul out to keep the lead intact.
Game two between Troy and Appalachian State will occur on Friday, May 19, at 6 p.m. as the Trojans go for their fifth straight win.
All three runs for the Trojans came in the bottom of the second when Ethan Kavanagh delivered the game's first runs, taking the first pitch he saw for a single to right field, driving in two runs. Then, with Tremayne Cobb Jr. on third, a fielder's choice from Kyle Mock scored the Trojans' third run in the inning and the last of the game for Troy.
The Mountaineers chipped away in the top of the third and fourth, scoring a run in each frame, but Trojan pitching was dialed in and didn't allow Appalachian State back into the game.
With the victory, Troy (37-17, 17-11) moves into third place in the conference standings with two regular season games to go ahead of the conference tournament. Troy remains 35th in RPI.
Grayson Stewart (9-2) had his best stuff working just as he has all season. He went seven innings allowing only two runs on five hits, recording eight strikeouts. It was the second time Stewart went seven innings and the fourth time he has recorded eight or more strikeouts.
The outing was the seventh quality start of the season for Stewart, and with the win, it is the most by a Trojan since 2021.
Following Stewart out of the Trojan bullpen were Matt Mercer and Noah Manning. Mercer and Manning combined for two innings, only allowing a single base runner to reach via a walk. Manning came on with one out in the ninth and a runner on and shut the door on his way to his 10th save of the season.
His 10 saves on the season are the most by a Trojan since Marc Skinner had 12 in 2017.
The Trojan offense had a hit in five straight innings, but outside the second couldn't take advantage. Kavanagh and Caleb Bartolero each had two hits on the night, as all of Troy's base knocks were singles.
Appalachian State starter Xander Hamilton (8-3) came into Thursday's start only having lost two games this season. However, the Trojans added a third to his resume after knocking him for three runs on six hits in five innings of work. Hamilton walked one and struck out six after throwing 101 pitches.
The Mountaineers left seven men on base as Dylan Rodgers finished with two hits to lead the team. A CJ Boyd home run in the top of the third got the Mountaineers on the board to cut into the lead, but no more damage would come in the frame.
Appalachian State, once again, plated a run in the top of the fourth after two hits. But, with runners on first and second and only one out, Stewart worked around the threat with a strikeout and foul out to keep the lead intact.
Game two between Troy and Appalachian State will occur on Friday, May 19, at 6 p.m. as the Trojans go for their fifth straight win.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stewart, Grayson (9-2)
L: Xander Hamilton (8-3)
S: Manning, Noah (10)
Batting:
2B: Xavier Moronta 1
HR: CJ Boyd 1
RBI: CJ Boyd 1 ; Dylan Rogers 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CJ Boyd 1 ; Luke Drumheller 1
Batting:
RBI: Kavanagh, Ethan 2 ; Mock, Kyle 1
SH: Whibbs, Donovan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bartolero, Caleb 1 ; Lewis, Shane 1 ; Cobb Jr., Tremayne 1
CS: Mock, Kyle 1
HBP: Lewis, Shane 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
C
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