Troy Baseball Opens Series with Run-Rule Shutout Victory Over Arkansas State

Friday, April 5

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

21-11, 5-5

Arkansas State

16-16, 3-7

Arkansas State

Troy

Troy Baseball Opens Series with Run-Rule Shutout Victory Over Arkansas State

4/5/2024 9:50:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – An early seven-inning run rule for Troy, 14-0, opened the series against Arkansas State as Luke Lyon posted a complete game Friday night at Riddle-Pace Field.

Troy (21-11, 5-5 SBC) capitalized early when Kole Myers sent his first pitch to right field, and the Red Wolf dropped the ball, resulting in No. 5 reaching third. All it took was a 3-1 sac fly for Will Butcher to bring him home for Troy's first run, 1-0.

They carried the momentum into the second when Peyton Watts drilled one to the left field wall, and it bounced off the top and came back into play for a double, 2-0, scoring Tremayne Cobb Jr., who singled to third base to start the order. A Blake Sutton walk put two runners on base and a pair of singles for Myers and Ethan Kavanagh scored three runs for a 5-0 lead.

The scoring onslaught continued in the fourth when the sixth-ranked Trojans in sac flies saw their second of the game and 23^rd of 2024 when Sutton brought Gilroy home, 6-0, after he doubled down the left field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

Gilroy's day was just starting when he earned his third triple of 2024 in the fifth, which scored Cobb Jr., 7-0, who was HBP two batters earlier. Freshman Watts returned to the plate and took a 2-1 pitch to left center for a sac fly, 8-0. A walk (Sutton) and HBP (Myers) put runners on first and second before a 2-1 RBI-single for Kavanagh and a wild pitch put the run rule into effect, 10-0. Butcher topped off the inning with a 1-2 single to center field to finish a five-run inning, 11-0.

The Trojans fired one last shot in the bottom of the sixth, 14-0, with a 2-2 single by Watts, an RBI-double by Sutton and a two-run error by Allen Grier for A-State (16-16, 3-7 SBC). From there, Lyon finished what he started with a complete game, escaping a one-out loaded base situation unscathed for the win.

Lyon (4-1) had an impressive showing through seven innings, striking out nine batters through 102 pitches with zero earned runs and two hits.

Head Coach Skylar Meade
"It's a good night in RPF with a little Friday night baseball. Thankfully, our game one starter was really good, and this was a bounce-back game for Luke. The offense came out ready to go, and we got a lot of runs early. Our base running was solid throughout the night, and that's what excites me the most. It's a good night, but we only get to enjoy it for an hour. Then, we have to get our rest because I know we are going to get a shot tomorrow. We've had a lot of games where we played outstanding for 90 percent of it but tonight, we truly played a complete game. It's a team effort and sets the tone for the weekend."

Up Next
The Troy-Arkansas State series sees game two tomorrow at 3:33 p.m. in Riddle-Pace Field.

Game One Numbers
• With Gilroy's triple in the bottom of the fifth, No. 6 has totaled two triples in the last three games – third of the season.
• Troy entered the game ranked 26^th in the nation for sac flies with 21 through 31 games. After a trio of sac flies for Troy, it totals 23.
• With a run-rule victory over Arkansas State, the Trojans have shortened the game on nine occasions – first over an SBC opponent.
• For the third straight game, the Troy offense scored double-digit runs, totaling 14 hits (three doubles, one triple).
• Lyon became the first Trojan since Grayson Stewart on March 5, 2023, against USC-Upstate to pitch a seven-inning complete game.
• Troy improves to 15-2 when hit by two or more pitches after a pair of HBP on Myers and Cobb Jr.