Troy University Athletics
Troy University
23-11, 7-5
Arkansas State
16-18, 3-9
Peyton Watts Walks Off to Sweep Arkansas State
4/7/2024 6:14:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. – Down 8-7, bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, Peyton Watts stepped to the plate for Troy and delivered a walk-off single to sweep Arkansas State, 9-8, at Riddle-Pace Field Sunday afternoon.
Watts impressed throughout the day, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a career-high five RBIs and a third career homer to top off a walk-off victory.
The Moment
Things looked dim in the top of the ninth when a single and walk allowed Allen Grier to blast a three-run homer to left field for an 8-6 lead for the Red Wolves (16-18, 3-9 SBC).
But three outs remained on the board for Troy (24-11, 7-5 SBC), and the team stayed poised with a full-count walk for Will Butcher and a 2-1 single by Brooks Bryan. With runners on first and third, Tremayne Cobb Jr. opened the door with a single up the middle, 8-7. An Aidan Gilroy 4-0 walk loaded the bases, and Watts stepped up to bat. The moment wasn't too big for the freshman as he took the first pitch he saw, sending it to right field to bring in pinch-runner Parker Sessions and the game-winning run Shane Lewis for the walk-off victory, 9-8.
The Build Up
Both sides remained silent until the fourth when A-State hit a pair of singles, and a wild pitch advanced a runner to third. Daedrick Cail sent a 1-1 shot double down the right field line to score the Red Wolves first run, 1-0. With runners still on second and third, Brayden Caskey took a full-count pitch and shot a single to left field, scoring Cade Tucker, 2-0. Cason Campbell finished the inning for Arkansas State, 4-0, with a two-RBI double to left center.
Troy mounted the comeback in the fifth when Kyle Mock got HBP and Gilroy singled to left field. A flyout by Watts placed runners to second and third, and Blake Sutton sent his first pitch to right center for a two-RBI double, 4-2.
The Trojans continued the rally one inning later after a walk for Gilroy. Watts connected on his first attempt and found the gap in left field, bringing Gilroy around to home, 4-3.
An HPB, wild pitch and throwing error by Troy put Campbell on third. After an eight-pitch battle, Blake Burris pushed the advantage to two, 5-3, when he singled to right center.
The bats broke out in the eighth for Troy when Bryan sent a 0-2 shot to right center for a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A 4-0 walk put Cobb Jr. on first, and Mock tapped one to left field for the sac fly, 5-4, as Bryan went home. With two outs on the board and an 0-2 count, Watts rocketed his third home run of 2024 354 feet over the right field wall to take a 6-5 lead.
Head Coach Skylar Meade
"Just a simple game of baseball. You had two teams competing like crazy, and I'm excited we came out on top. There were moments when we had the opportunity to finish the game, but you got to learn how to win in a billion different ways. Peyton Watts was certainly the star of the night. But all of our guys contributed today, and this team was full of belief that we could go out there and win that game. Some people act like they are ready for the moment, but Watts truly relishes them. He has a strong belief in himself, and he found a way."
Up Next
Troy continues its Sun Belt Conference schedule next Friday through Sunday in Boone, N.C., for a three-game series against App State.
Game Three / Series Numbers
• Watts' 354-foot home run in the bottom of the eighth marked his third of 2024 – first homer since Alabama on March 6.
• No. 36 had a career outing, going 3-for-5 with five RBIs, a home run and a walk-off single.
• The series sweep marks the first Sun Belt Conference sweep of 2024 and the first since Marshall from May 12 – 14 last season.
• Through the three-game series, the Trojans totaled 27 hits, 32 RBIs, four homers, 53 total bases, four triples and nine doubles.
• Gilroy was impressed in all three games against the Red Wolves, with four runs, four hits, five RBIs, and a double, triple and homer.
• Noah Manning (5-0) remained undefeated with the victory over A-State through two innings pitched.
• When Troy gets a homer, its chances of winning continue to improve, sitting at 17-7.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Manning, Noah (5-0)
L: Charlton, Max (2-1)
Batting:
2B: Cail, Daedrick 1 ; Campbell, Cason 1
HR: Grier, Allen 1
RBI: Burris, Blake 1 ; Grier, Allen 3 ; Cail, Daedrick 1 ; Caskey, Brayden 1 ; Campbell, Cason 2
SH: Cail, Daedrick 1 ; Toler, Jared 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burris, Blake 1 ; Grier, Allen 2 ; Tucker, Cade 1 ; Cail, Daedrick 1 ; Caskey, Brayden 1 ; Campbell, Cason 1 ; Hayes, Nyan 1
SB: Burris, Blake 1
HBP: Campbell, Cason 1
Batting:
2B: Bryan, Brooks 1 ; Watts, Peyton 1 ; Sutton, Blake 1
HR: Watts, Peyton 1
RBI: Cobb Jr., Tremayne 1 ; Mock, Kyle 1 ; Watts, Peyton 5 ; Sutton, Blake 2
SF: Mock, Kyle 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Butcher, Will 1 ; Bryan, Brooks 1 ; Sessions, Parker 1 ; Cobb Jr., Tremayne 1 ; Mock, Kyle 1 ; Lewis, Shane 1 ; Gilroy, Aidan 2 ; Watts, Peyton 1
CS: Butcher, Will 1
HBP: Myers, Kole 1 ; Mock, Kyle 1
