Meier's Ninth Inning Homer Propels No. 20 Troy Past No. 15 Mississippi State

Tuesday, February 25

Starkville, Miss.

4 p.m.

Troy University

7-1

Mississippi State

6-2

Troy

Mississippi State

Meier's Ninth Inning Homer Propels No. 20 Troy Past No. 15 Mississippi State

2/25/2025 9:17:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

STARKVILLE, Miss. - A go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth by Steven Meier was the difference in No. 20 Troy's 6-5 victory at No. 15 Mississippi State at Dudy Noble Field on Tuesday.

Meier exploded on a 3-0 fastball with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, launching it 396 feet over the rigs in right field for his first homer as a Trojan. Grady Gorgen closed in down in the bottom of the ninth, but it was what the lefty did in the eighth that kept the Trojans in the fight.

Gorgen entered with two on and one out and walked a hitter to load the bases, but the senior escaped the jam with strikeouts against Mississippi State's fourth and fifth hitters, Noah Sullivan and Hunter Hines.

Troy had gotten an early lead behind a pair of home runs from Shane Lewis, who began his career at Mississippi State during the 2021 season. Lewis crushed a solo shot to right field in the second inning and was the start of Troy's 4-spot in the fifth, golfing a slider deep over the right field wall.

Meier followed with an RBI single later in the fifth, while Blake Cavill drew a walk with the bases loaded before Peyton Watts scored on a passed ball.

Trojan starter Adam Falinski cruised through the first four innings of the ballgame and racked up six strikeouts. The senior got beat with an infield single to start the fifth before a hit batter and another single loaded the bases. The Trojans turned to Grayson Stewart, but a grand slam by Sullivan put four runs on the board for the Bulldogs before an RBI single by Ace Reese off Jay Dill in the sixth evened the game at five.

Noah Thigen pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning before turning it over to Gorgen with one out in the eighth.

Quick Hitters

The Trojans are 1-1 in games decided by one run this season.
The 6-5 victory was Troy's first win over an SEC team since an 8-7 win at Auburn on April 25, 2023.
It was Troy's first win over a ranked opponent since an 8-4 victory over No. 18 Louisiana on May 4, 2024.
It was Troy's first-ever victory over Mississippi State. The Trojans are now 1-5 all-time against the Bulldogs.
Troy hit three home runs as a team, its second three-homer game this season.
Steven Meier went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and a hit by pitch, extending his hitting streak to 11 games and on-base streak to 15 games dating back to last season.
Meier's go-ahead home run in the ninth inning was his first home run as a Trojan. He hit six home runs at Old Dominion last season.
Blake Cavill drew a walk, extending his on-base streak to 15 games dating back to last season.
Shane Lewis hit two home runs. It was his second multi-homer game of the season and eighth of his career. He leads the team with five home runs this season.
Mike Bello went 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak and on-base streak to six games.
Peyton Watts went 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak and on-base streak to five games.
Troy's pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts, which is tied for the second-most this season.
Adam Falinski struck out six, his most as a member of the Trojans.
Freshman Noah Thigpen pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. He lowered his season ERA to 2.08.
Grady Gorgen recorded the victory, his first this season and second of his career.
Gorgen is scoreless through three appearances this season.

Quotables

Head Coach Skylar Meade…

"It was a total team effort. So many people people had moments. What a cool thing for Shane. Steven Meier on the 3-0, had some other great at-bats throughout the game. Blake's walk. The solid defense that we played. Adam Falinski looked like a first-rounder in those first four innings."

"Jay Dill, Thigpen and Gorgen, you can't say enough about how nasty they were and how competitive they were. Just an amazing college baseball game."

Steven Meier on his go-ahead home run…

"When it happened, I didn't have much in my mind other than 'Let's Go!' I think all the preparation going into this game is what gave us that opportunity. Earlier in the game, I had pitches I thought I could do damage on that I didn't swing at or didn't put my swing on it, but it was just a matter of time."

Grady Gorgen on closing out the game…

"I was just trying to be as confident as possible. I knew I had some good fielders behind me that made some good plays, and we got it done tonight."

Next Up

The Trojans return home to Riddle-Pace Field to face UAB on Wednesday at 4 p.m.