No. 20 Troy Clinches Series Over Penn in Walk-Off Fashion

Saturday, March 1

Troy, Ala.

3:33 p.m.

Troy University

10-1

Penn

0-5

Penn

Troy

No. 20 Troy Clinches Series Over Penn in Walk-Off Fashion

3/1/2025 9:13:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. - A game-tying two-run blast by Brooks Bryan in the eighth inning was the spark No. 20 Troy needed to defeat Penn 10-9 in walk-off fashion on a Blake Cavill sacrifice bunt.

The Trojans entered the eighth inning 9-7, but when Cavill drew a four-pitch walk to open the frame, it felt as if something big was about to happen with Bryan stepping to the plate. The junior catcher worked a 2-2 count and unloaded on a curveball, sending it deep into the night to tie the game at 9-9.

Colby Frieda, who stranded two runners after recording the final two outs of the top of the eighth, struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning to put the Trojans in a position to walk it off. Steven Meier led off with his third walk of the day before Sean Darnell reached on an error by the Penn shortstop to give the Trojans two on with no out. Blake Cavill dropped a sacrifice bunt down the third base line to move the runners, but a high throw by the Penn third baseman brought Meier home to end the ballgame.

Meier, who ignited the ninth inning with his leadoff walk, came up clutch earlier in the ballgame, breaking a 4-4 tie with a three-run laser over the right field wall in the bottom of the fifth. The Trojans didn't hold on to the lead for long, as Penn put up five runs against Troy relievers Luke Lyon and Grady Gorgen in the top of the sixth. Gorgen, however, churned out a scoreless seventh inning to get the Trojans back on track.

Troy starter Noah Edders pitched 4.0 innings and allowed four earned runs. Edders struck out three and held the Quakers to three hits. However, two of those hits were home runs by Penn's Gavin Collins and Ryan Taylor.

The Trojans knocked Penn starter Mason Coyne out of the game before he recorded an out, drawing four consecutive walks by Meier, Darnell, Cavill and Bryan to start the game. Houston Markham drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the first, and Lewis drew a bases-loaded walk in the second. Markham tied the ballgame in the fourth inning at 4-4 with an RBI double in the right-center gap.

Game 3 between No. 20 and Penn is slated for 12 p.m. on Sunday at Riddle-Pace Field.

Quick Hitters

Saturday's attendance was 2,803, the largest crowd at Riddle-Pace Field this season and the 13th largest in Riddle-Pace Field history.
Troy is 9-0 at Riddle-Pace Field this season.
Troy hit two home runs, bringing its season total to 14. All 14 home runs have come off a right-handed pitcher.
The Troy offense drew 13 walks, their second-most this season.
Troy was out-hit 9-8 by Penn. The Trojans are 3-0 this season when recording fewer hits than their opponent.
Blake Cavill walked it off with a sac bunt. It was Troy's first walk-off win this season.
Steven Meier went 2-for-3 with a home run, three walks, three runs scored and three RBIs, extending his on-base streak to 18 games dating back to last season.
Meier's three-run home run in the fifth inning was his second home run of the season.
Meier's three runs bring his season total to 23, which leads the Sun Belt Conference.
Meier's three RBIs and three walks are both new career highs.
After his 2-for-3 day, Meier leads the Sun Belt in batting average (.439) and hits (18).
Blake Cavill drew three walks, extending his on-base streak to 18 games dating back to last season.
Brooks Bryan went 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk, an HPB and three RBIs. His game-tying home run in the eighth inning was his second home run of the season.
Bryan's three RBIs bring his season total to 19, which leads the Sun Belt Conference.
Shane Lewis went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks and an RBI, extending his on-base streak to six games.
Mike Bello drew two walks, extending his on-base streak to eight games.
Jimmy Janicki went 1-for-4, extending his on-base streak to six games.
Colby Frieda recorded the win, which was the first of his career.
Frieda pitched the game's final 1.2 innings and recorded three strikeouts, both of which are season highs.

Quotables

Head Coach Skylar Meade on the final few innings…

"I think it started with Grady settling the game down in the seventh. Even when we had a mistake, he just kept attacking and executing pitches, so we kept the game at bay there. Frieda comes in the eighth, and I thought he was really nasty. Made a couple of pivotal pitches when the time asked for it. Then we get Blake on base, and Brooks hits the bomb."

"Frieda came back out in the ninth and was so good, so competitive. His stuff was nasty. That's the Frieda that we know is there all the time, and I thought he hit another gear. We start the ninth and Steve gets on base again, which he did throughout the duration of the game. Darnell hits the ball, and we get a little RPF magic on a weird hop. I don't know if they'll turn a double play, but they probably get the force. Blake lays down the bunt and puts some game pressure, ball ends up getting away, and the Trojans win."

"You've really got to be able to win a lot of ways. We really haven't had this game. We've had close games, but we haven't had the one where we don't have the lead."

Brooks Bryan on his home run…

"They had walked Blake on four pitches right before that, so I was taking until I got a strike. I got to a 2-1 count and was ready to attack something. He had a good pitch, that cutter. I didn't really see it up. I looked at Ben [Wolgamot] and was like 'you've got to see something up here.' I saw that curveball up and just attacked it, did something good with it.

Steven Meier on his approach in the leadoff spot…

"It's fluctuating because of the situation. A lot of it is just, get on, get on, get on anyway I can. Whether that's getting hit, or a walk or a base knock. That's all that I can really do to have success for the team."