Trojans Notch 8-5 Victory Over Jacksonville State

Tuesday, May 2

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

31-15

Jacksonville State

21-22

Jacksonville State

Troy

Trojans Notch 8-5 Victory Over Jacksonville State

5/2/2023 10:33:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala- Shane Lewis inched closer to history, and Troy pitching struck out 13 batters as the Trojans won their fifth straight game over Jacksonville State after defeating the Gamecocks 8-5 Tuesday night from Riddle-Pace Field.

As he has done all season, Lewis sent the ball out of the ballpark twice for his 22^nd and 23^rd home runs. Lewis is now in a tie for second for most home runs in a single season needing only four more to become the all-time record holder.

After Jacksonville State (21-22) had scored three runs in the top of the eighth to make it a one-run ball game at 5-4, the Trojans' (31-15) home run power was back on display as Donovan Whibbs provided the big blow with a two-run shot and Lewis went back-to-back to secure the victory.

It was Whibbs' fourth home run of the season as Troy's second baseman finished with three hits, two RBIs, and a run scored. Lewis also saw a three-hit night and drove in two while scoring three runs himself.

Making his sixth start of the season, Ben Thompson (5-1) earned the win as he pitched three innings, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts. Thompson now has 73 strikeouts moving him into third in the Sun Belt Conference for most this season by a pitcher.

Following Thompson was Matt Mercer, Brandon Schrepf, and Zach Fruit. Mercer was dominant in relief, going three innings, allowing a single base runner with three strikeouts. The Gamecocks got to Schrepf for two runs after back-to-back walks to lead off the eighth, but Fruit came on and closed things out to earn his fourth save of the season.

Trojans have had 27 games this season where Troy has combined to strike out 10 or more batters. They are 22-5 in those games and are striking out 10.9 batters per game which would be a program record if the season ended today.

Mason Manners for Jacksonville State was responsible for three of the five Gamecock runs as he went two-for-four with a home run. Reid Fagerstorm (0-4) lasted two innings allowing three runs, with only one being earned after two errors.

Four pitchers followed Fagerstorm, with the Trojans scoring at least a run on all but one. Troy has now hit 83 home runs as a team this season, making it the sixth most hit in a single season by a Troy team in program history and the most since 2010.

The scoring started in the second as Kole Myers picked up his 27^th RBI of the season after a single scored Tremayne Cobb Jr. at third.

The Gamecocks immediately responded with a home run in the top of the third to tie the game, but that was quickly erased in the bottom half as Lewis hit his first home run of the night, and a fielding error allowed two more Trojans to come around and score.

With the runners in the corners and one out, Kyle Mock reached on a fielder's choice allowing the fifth Trojan run to cross home plate.

Jacksonville State made things interesting in the top of the eighth, scoring three times, two walks, and three singles bringing them within one run. Fruit got a strikeout to end the frame stranding the tying run on third.

The homestand continues for Troy as they welcome Georgia Southern to Riddle-Pace Field for a pivotal three-game series beginning on Friday, May 5^th, at 6 p.m. Only two games separate the two programs in the conference standings.