Trojans Can't Overcome Appalachian State's Big Inning

Friday, May 26

Montgomery, Ala.

3 p.m.

Troy University

39-20

Appalachian State

29-24

Troy

Appalachian State

Trojans Can't Overcome Appalachian State's Big Inning

5/26/2023 8:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Troy Athletics Communications

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A 10-run sixth inning for Appalachian State proved to be the difference as Troy fell to the Mountaineers 14-10 Friday afternoon from Riverwalk Stadium. The loss eliminates Troy from the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

All 10 of the Mountaineers' runs came with two outs as Appalachian State (29-24) connected for seven hits and four walks to go from down 7-3 to leading 13-7. Troy (39-20) tried to chip back at the lead with three runs in the final two innings, but the Mountaineers held on.

Offensively for Troy, leadoff hitter Kole Myers had his fourth three-hit game of the season, finishing with two RBIs and two runs scored. Ethan Kavanagh had two hits and a team-high three runs scored, while Tremayne Cobb Jr and Donovan Whibbs had two RBIs a piece for the second consecutive game.

Trojan starter Zach Fruit matched a season-high with nine strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work. He allowed three runs on five hits and walked three. Brady Fuller (4-5) got the two outs in the sixth but couldn't get the third as the Mountaineers got six runs on two hits but had four walks which were key in the inning.

It was a short day for Appalachian State starter Bradley Wilson as he was chased from the ballgame after 2.2 innings allowing five runs on three hits but walking four and only striking out three. Eli Ellington earned his first win of the season after throwing two scoreless innings finishing with three strikeouts and no hits allowed.

Five of the Mountaineers' 13 runs came from CJ Boyd, who had three hits, including two home runs. Andrew Terrell drove in three on two hits and scored twice. Six different players scored twice as they were able to get a run across against each of the five Trojan pitchers they saw.

The Trojans came out swinging as Myers and Kavanagh led off the game with singles and were quickly in scoring position after a wild pitch. Then, with nobody out, Caleb Bartolero did his job and drove in the first run, and the second came immediately after as Kavanagh scored on a wild pitch.

A three-run third inning extended the Trojan lead as Troy did the damage with two outs. Cobb Jr., one of the hottest hitters in the tournament, once again came through as he singled to score Kavanagh. The third walk of the inning to Shane Lewis loaded the bases, and Donovan Whibbs delivered the big hit as his single scored two more to make it a 5-0 ball game.

Troy wasn't done scoring in the top of the fourth as it was Myers again getting the inning started with a single and advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. An Appalachian State fielding error put runners on the corners, and a Bartolero walk loaded the bases. Sullivan followed with a walk to bring in the Trojans' sixth. The seventh run of the game once again was delivered by Cobb Jr. via a sacrifice fly for his third RBI of the afternoon as Kavanagh scored for the third time.

Appalachian State got back into the ball game with three runs in the bottom half of the fourth, stringing together four singles to score three times and chase Fruit from the ball game. Kristian Asbury came on and got the final out of the inning on one pitch to keep the Mountaineers from doing any more damage.

This was only the fifth loss for the Trojans when leading after five innings this season.

The Trojans didn't score again until the top of the eighth inning as Myers hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Stearns. Troy strung together three hits in the ninth and scored twice as Kyle Mock singled and Myers doubled in runs, but that was all from the frame.

Troy will now await their NCAA Tournament fate, as the bracket is set to be announced on Monday, May 29 at 11:00 am CT on ESPN2.