Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Marshall
No. 17 Troy Welcomes Marshall to Riddle-Pace Field in Sun Belt Action
3/27/2025 5:36:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - No.17 Troy returns to Sun Belt action this weekend with a three-game series against Marshall at Riddle-Pace Field Friday-Sunday.
The Trojans reached their highest national ranking in their Division I history this week, coming in at No. 17 in the NCBWA Top 25. The ranking comes after the Trojans took 2-of-3 games against No. 16 Coastal Carolina at Riddle-Pace Field last weekend. Troy split its two midweek contests this week, falling to Wofford 14-3 on Tuesday and staging a seven-run comeback to defeat Florida A&M 10-8 on Wednesday.Â
The Trojans boast one of the top offenses in college baseball. They lead the Sun Belt Conference in batting average (.306) and on-base percentage while ranking second in home runs (37) and runs per game (8.6).Â
Freshman Jimmy Janicki is swinging a hot bat, leading the Sun Belt with a .727 batting average in conference games and hitting a go-ahead home run against Coastal Carolina in Sunday's 9-5 win. Junior Dillon Kuehl has also had some clutch moments recently, hitting a go-ahead two-run single in Saturday's 9-5 win over Coastal before hitting a pair of home runs, including a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning at FAMU on Wednesday.Â
On the mound, senior Garrett Gainous will make his seventh start of the season after reaching fourth place for strikeouts in Troy history last week (237). Noah Edders takes the mound on Saturday after putting together a quality start in Troy's win over Coastal Carolina last Saturday, going 6.0 innings with three earned runs and a season-high nine strikeouts. Head coach Skylar Meade has not announced a starter for Sunday's game.Â
ÂGameday Info
The Matchup: No. 17 Troy (19-7, 4-2 Sun Belt) vs. Marshall (12-13, 2-4 SBC)
Game Times: Friday - 6 p.m. | Saturday - 3:33 p.m. | Sunday - 1 p.m.
Location: Troy, Ala. - Riddle-Pace Field
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
ÂProbable Starters
Game 1
Marshall: Bryce Blevins (2-2, 30.1 IP, 7.42 ERA), LHP, Jr.
Troy: Garrett Gainous (3-0, 27.1 IP, 4.28 ERA), RHP, Sr.
Game 2
Marshall: Griffin Miller (3-1, 34.1 IP, 2.62 ERA), RHP, So.
Troy: Noah Edders (2-0, 29.2 IP, 5.16 ERA), RHP, Jr.
Game 3
Marshall: TBA
Troy: TBA
ÂQuick Hitters
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Troy was ranked in all five major polls this week, topping at No. 17 in the NCBWA Top 25. The No. 17 ranking is the highest ranking in Troy's Division I history. The Trojans were ranked No. 18 in 2011 and earlier this season.
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Troy entered the season ranked No. 25 in the D1Baseball Top 25 and currently sits at No. 22. It was the first time in Troy's Division I history that they entered the season ranked in the Top 25.
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Troy has hit 37 home runs this season, ranking second in the Sun Belt Conference. All 37 have come against a right-handed pitcher.
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Troy leads the Sun Belt in batting average (.306), on-base percentage (.432).
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Former Trojan Brandon Lockridge (2016-18) batted eighth and played left field for the Padres on Opening Day, making him Troy's first Opening Day starter since Mike Rivera caught and batted seventh for the Tigers in 2002.Â
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Through two weeks of Sun Belt play, Jimmy Janicki leads the Sun Belt in batting average (.727), OBP (.727), SLG (1.091), and OPS (1.818) in conference games. Janicki is 8-for-11 with a double and a home run against Sun Belt opponents.Â
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First baseman Blake Cavill ranks third in the nation in walks (32) and tenth in on-base percentage (.565).Â
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Steven Meier and Blake Cavill have been two of the most valuable players in college baseball, according to D1Baseball's Synergy Leaderboard. Cavill ranks 15th nationally in wins above replacement (2.32) and Meier ranks 26th (2.23).Â
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Garrett Gainous and Grayson Stewart are climbing the Troy all-time leaderboards in wins and strikeouts. Gainous ranks tenth in wins (19) and fourth in strikeouts (237) while Stewart is tied for fifth in wins (22) and tied for in strikeouts (222).
Scouting Marshall
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The Thundering Herd enter the series with a 12-13 record and 2-4 Sun Belt record under third-year head coach Greg Beals.
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The Marshall pitching staff ranks fourth in the Sun Belt with a 5.20 team ERA. The Thundering Herd rank seventh in the conference in hits per nine innings (9.33), 14th in strikeouts per nine innings (6.8) and 11th in walks per nine innings (5.15).
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Friday starter Bryce Blevins was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt team after posting a 3.45 ERA in 86.0 innings last season. This season, Blevins has made six starts with a 7.42 ERA in 30.1 innings.
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Saturday starter Griffin Miller ranks fourth in the Sun Belt with a 2.62 ERA. Miller had held opponents to a .221 batting average while tallying 21 strikeouts and 18 walks in 34.1 innings.Â
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The Marshall offense ranks ninth in the Sun Belt with a .256 batting average. The Thundering Herd rank seventh in home runs (22) and eighth in runs per game (5.9).Â
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Third baseman Eddie Leon is the team's leading hitter with a .315 batting average. DH Ethan leads the Thunder Herd with seven home runs and first baseman A.J. Havrilla leads with 21 RBIs.
Series History
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Troy's only meeting with Marshall came in 2023, the Thundering Herd's first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference. Troy swept them on the road in Huntington, W.Va., defeating them 7-6, 6-3 and 4-2.Â
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This weekend's series will be Marshall's first-ever trip to Troy.
