Troy Powers Past Indiana in Opener

Saturday, March 9

Bloomington, Ind.

1 p.m.

Troy University

11-4

Indiana

8-5

Troy

Indiana

3/9/2024 5:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Will Butcher hit three home runs and drove in six runs, while Luke Lyon dominated for 7.1 innings on the mound as Troy defeated Indiana, 8-1, in the series opener Saturday at Bart Kaufman Field.

Lyon's (2-0) start was his first of the season after beginning the year in the Troy (11-4) bullpen. He limited the Hoosiers (8-5) to just one run while striking out seven batters. The junior right-hander entered the game leading the country with a 0.48 WHIP and allowed just six base runners in his 7.1 innings.

Butcher, who entered the weekend second nationally in RBIs, put Troy in front with a 2-run homer in the third, followed with a solo shot in the fifth and iced the game with a 3-run blast in the ninth inning for his second game this season with six or more RBIs (drove in nine in the second game of the season).

Troy chased Indiana starter Conner Foley (1-1) after 92 pitches and four innings, as the Hoosiers' ace walked four and hit a batter, in addition to surrendering Butcher's first homer. Indiana followed with its best bullpen arm, Ty Bothwell, who the Trojans tagged for five runs on seven hits in four innings.

The Trojans loaded the bases in the first after Kole Myers singled to open the game, followed by Ethan Kavanagh and Brooks Bryan walks. Foley navigated the rest of the frame to come out unscathed, and Nick Mitchell took the sixth pitch from Lyon out to right field to lead off the home half of the first; it would be the only run Indiana scored all game.

Kavanagh was hit by a 1-1 offering from Foley to lead off the third and Butcher hammered a 2-2 fastball deep over the wall in left to put Troy in front, 2-1. In the fifth, Butcher deposited a 1-0 fastball from Bothwell over the wall for his second homer of the game.

Lyon turned the ball over to Logan Ross with one out in the eighth as the Hoosier lineup flipped over for a fourth time. Following a strikeout and four-pitch walk to Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year Devin Taylor, Brock Tibbitts beat out an infield single and Carter Mathinson was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Ross pitched out of trouble getting Josh Pyne to grounder into a fielder's choice.

The first four batters of the Troy ninth reached after Myers doubled, Kavanagh walked and Butcher took Bothwell deep for a second time, extending Troy's lead to 6-1. Bryan was hit by a pitch and Tremayne Cobb Jr. welcomed new Indiana pitcher Evan Whiteaker with his first home run of the season.

The 5-run ninth allowed Troy closer Noah Manning to take a seat after warming up to start the inning, as Ross came back out to close out the ninth.

Quotable – Head Coach Skylar Meade
"I thought it was our most complete performance that we've had to this point. Luke gave up the home run in his first at-bat, which can certainly test one's mentality and reliance, but he's not going to change what he does and he stayed in attack mode. He was outstanding, and I thought our defense was outstanding behind him. Everyone really just did their job; it sounds a bit cliché. Butch's home runs were awesome and Tre adding the insurance run on the back side."

Up Next
Troy and Indiana wrap up their three-game series Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m. (CT).

Notable
• Ethan Kavanagh extended his hitting streak to a team-leading 11^th games and his on-base streak to 27 games, while Kole Myers extended his on-base streak to a team-best 33 games.

• Troy's four home runs were a season-high; it was Troy's ninth multi-homer game this season. The Trojans have hit multiple home runs in nine of its last 12 games.

• Troy pitchers have allowed two or fewer extra-base hits in 10 of the last 13 games, while Troy hitters have three or more extra-base hits in 11 of 15 games this season after recording five on Saturday.

• Luke Lyon's 7.1 inning start matched Troy's longest of the season; Clete Hartzog, who will start one of Sunday's games, tossed 7.1 scoreless innings at Northwestern State last weekend.

• Shane Lewis returned to the Troy lineup after missing the last four games; he recorded a single and just missed his second home run of the season by about five feet.

• Troy's bullpen did not allow an earned run for the seventh time this season after Logan Ross pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of Luke Lyon.

• Troy improved to 20-11 in series openers under Skylar Meade and 3-1 this season. The Trojans are now 25-22, coming off a loss under Meade.

• Troy has won five straight in the series with Indiana and is 4-0 against the Hoosiers under head coach Skylar Meade; the Trojans swept Indiana in a three-game series in 2022.