Troy Baseball Erupts in the Seventh to Secure Series Win Over Arkansas State

Saturday, April 6

Troy, Ala.

3:33 p.m.

Troy University

22-11, 6-5

Arkansas State

16-17, 3-8

Arkansas State

Troy

Troy Baseball Erupts in the Seventh to Secure Series Win Over Arkansas State

4/6/2024 7:37:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Behind an explosive six-run seventh inning Saturday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field, the Troy baseball team captures a fourth straight victory, 12-5, and clinches the series over Arkansas State.

The Trojans (22-11, 6-5 SBC) struck first in the bottom of the second when Tremayne Cobb Jr. sent a 1-1 shot down the right field line for his first of two doubles. Runners were placed on second and third after a 4-0 walk for Kyle Mock and an Aidan Gilroy fly-out. Then, on his third pitch, Blake Sutton sent one 426 feet over the center field wall to score three.

A-State (16-17, 3-8 SBC) responded quickly in the third on a fielder's choice, putting Jake Henry Williams on base, and he stole second – advanced to third on a Troy error. Allen Grier tapped one through the left side, scoring Williams and cutting the margin to 3-1.

A silent fourth inning was met with an explosive fifth by both sides. The Red Wolves opened it with three straight singles to load the bases, ending Garrett Gainous' day with 4.1 IP and five strikeouts through 74 pitches. Arkansas State wasn't done when Cason Tollett sac flew to center field, 3-2, followed by a triple for Daedrick Cail to take a 4-3 lead.

It was Troy's turn in the bottom of the inning when Kole Myers earned a 4-1 walk, but a fielder's choice on Mikey Bello and Butcher kept a runner on first. However, Brooks Bryan took the first pitch he saw and hauled for a second career triple to center field while Butcher rounded to home, 4-4. With his second double of the day, Cobb Jr. grabbed an RBI down the first base line, retaking the 5-4 lead.

Brayden Caskey tied the game, 5-5, to open the sixth, taking the 2-0 pitch over the left field wall for a solo homer.

The seventh inning saw Troy down the gas pedal when back-to-back singles by Bello and Butcher put runners on first and second. Bryan brought both home, 7-5, on an 0-2 double over the center fielder's head. An intentional walk on Cobb Jr., followed by a failed double-play for A-State, loaded the bases, and Gilroy got everyone home with a 381-foot grand slam to right field, 11-6 – first of his career.

Butcher solidified the victory in the bottom of the eighth with Troy's third homer of the game, 12-5. His shot went 369 feet over left field, marking his fifth solo homer of 2024. Meanwhile, Troy's defense kept A-State silent in the final three innings behind Clete Hartzog (4-2), who pitched his way to a fourth victory through three innings, three strikeouts, zero runs and two hits.

Head Coach Skylar Meade
"It was a beautiful day at RPF. There was a lot going on, and the crowd was great in the infield and outfield. We gave the first punch, and we took a punch back. We had a chance to get out of the fifth, but we didn't. And we kept attacking in order to solidify it in the final three innings. I thought Sutton was really good behind the plate in back-to-back games, helping make our pitches the best versions of themselves. It was, overall, just a great effort. It's a good day for the Trojans. We can enjoy it for a little, but we got to get back here at 1 p.m. tomorrow to finish the job."

Up Next
The final game of the Troy-Arkansas State series opens tomorrow at 1 p.m. in RPF.

Game Two Numbers
• Sutton's homer marked the first home run given up by Collin Maloney and the fourth homer of 2024 for No. 22.
• Troy continues to attack the opposition's starting pitcher with its 18^th homer in that situation. The Trojans have also drilled 13 of their 47 homers in the first two innings.
• Bryan's triple in the bottom of the fifth marked the second of his career – both happened over the last week.
• After being tied 5-5 after the sixth, Troy scored seven unanswered runs to capture the victory and improve their record when tied after six to 3-1.
• Troy's trio of homers marked the 14^th multi-home run game, with seven being three-plus. Over the last four games, Troy's totaled nine home runs.
• Over the last 16.2 IP for Hartzog, he's allowed 14 earned runs, 13 walks, and 16 hits.