No. 20 Troy Travels to No. 15 Mississippi State, Hosts UAB in Midweek Action

Tuesday, February 25

Starkville, Miss.

4 p.m.

Troy University

Mississippi State

No. 20 Troy Travels to No. 15 Mississippi State, Hosts UAB in Midweek Action

2/24/2025 3:47:00 PM | Baseball

SEC Network+Live Stats (Mississippi State)Live Stats (UAB)Game Notes

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. - The No. 20 Troy Trojans are set for an action packed week as they'll travel to face No. 15 Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., on Tuesday before returning home to play UAB at Riddle-Pace Field on Wednesday.

Following this weekend's sweep over Northwestern State, the Trojans were ranked No. 20 in the NCBWA Top 25, which is two spots shy of their highest ever national ranking (18 - 2011). Troy also jumped from No. 24 to No. 21 in the D1Baseball Top 25.

Troy second baseman Sean Darnell is coming off a monster weekend at the plate, which included a 5-hit performance in Troy's 14-12 win over Northwestern State on Saturday and a three-run blast in Sunday's 14-4 run-rule victory. Darnell and first baseman Blake Cavill are tied for the Sun Belt lead with 13 hits apiece this season.

On the mound, the Trojans got competitive starts from all four of their starting pitchers. Adam Falinski, who is slated to pitch against Mississippi State on Tuesday, went 3.2 innings without an earned run at Auburn last Tuesday. Garrett Gainous pitched five innings of one-run ball on Friday, Noah Edders fanned seven hitters and allowed just two runs in five innings on Saturday and Drew Nelson took a no-hitter into the fifth inning on Sunday.

Tuesday Gameday Info

The Matchup: No. 20 Troy (6-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) at No. 15 Mississippi State (6-1, 0-0 SEC)

When: Tuesday, February 25 - 4 p.m.

Location: Dudy Noble Field - Starkville, Miss.

TV: SEC Network+

Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network

Probable Starters
Troy: Adam Falinski (4.2 IP, 1.93 ERA), RHP, Sr.
MSU: Jacob Pruitt (1.0 IP, 27.00 ERA), RHP, Jr.

Wednesday Gameday Info

The Matchup: No. 20 Troy (6-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) vs. UAB (6-1, 0-0 AAC)

When: Wednesday, February 26 - 4 p.m.

Location: Riddle-Pace FIeld - Troy, Ala.

Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network

Probable Starters
Troy: TBA
UAB: TBA

Notables

•Troy was ranked No. 20 in this week's NCBWA Top 25, which two spots shy of the Trojans' highest-ever national ranking (18th - 2011)

• Troy entered the season ranked No. 25 in the D1Baseball Top 25, and has moved up to No. 21 after two weeks. It was the first time in Troy's Division I history they entered the season ranked in the Top 25.

• Troy has two players who began their careers at Mississippi State - Shane Lewis (2021) and Brock Tapper (2023).

• Sean Darnell and Blake Cavill are tied for the Sun Belt lead in hits (13) and RBIs (12). Darnell leads the conference in batting average (.542) with Cavill (.500) ranking second.

• The Troy offense has been dominant through the first two weeks of the season, ranking in the top ten nationally in numerous categories.

- On-base Percentage (Fourth - .505)

- Batting Average (Sixth - .362)

- Walks (Seventh - 62)

- OPS (10th - 1.068)

- Runs Per Game (10th - 11.1)

• Leadoff hitter Steven Meier ranks second in the nation in doubles (6), one double shy of the national leader. He leads the nation in runs scored (15).

• Left fielder Mike Bello ranks second in the nation in sacrifice flies (3), one shy of the national leader.

• After his three home runs against Bellarmine opening weekend, Shane Lewis is tied for seventh in Troy history with Brian Lipman in home runs (35).

• Troy has two of the top ten strikeout pitchers in school history on the team this season in Grayson Stewart (Sixth – 218) and Garrett Gainous (T-Seventh – 216).