No. 17 Troy Takes Series Opener from Marshall

Friday, March 28

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

20-7, 5-2

Marshall

12-14, 2-5

Marshall

Troy

No. 17 Troy Takes Series Opener from Marshall

3/28/2025 10:31:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. - A dominant performance on the mound by Garrett Gainous propelled No. 17 Troy to a 4-3 win over Marshall in the series opener at Riddle-Pace Field.

Gainous, a senior right-hander from Cairo, Ga., pitched 5.0 innings and recorded seven strikeouts, one shy of his season-high. Gainous held the Thundering Herd to four hits, allowing one run and one earned run and issuing three walks.

Troy got on the board early in the second inning, as freshman third baseman Peryn Bland ripped a two-run double in the first at-bat of his career. Bland had a productive day at the plate in his first career start, going 2-for-2 with a walk, a double and two RBIs.

Marshall starter Bryce Blevins put together a strong start for the Thundering Herd, going 6.0 innings and allowing seven hits, four earned runs and two walks with five strikeouts. Bland's two-run double was the only damage Blevins had issued through five innings, until Trojan right fielder Gavin Schrader crushed a two-run homer over the right field wall in the sixth. Schrader's homer was Troy's 38th home run of the season, and its first off a left-handed pitcher.

Troy's bullpen was solid in relief, as Grayson Stewart went 2.1 innings, allowing one run while Colby Frieda pitched the final 1.2 innings of the ball game with one run and three strikeouts, picking up the first save of his career.

Game 2 between No. 17 Troy and Marshall is set for 3:33 p.m. at Riddle-Pace Field. Noah Edders takes the mound for the Trojans after a nine-strikeout performance in Troy's 9-8 win over Coastal Carolina last Saturday, while Marshall will start sophomore right-hander Griffin Miller, who ranks fourth in the Sun Belt with a 2.62 ERA.

Quick Hitters

Troy's win was its 13th home win of the season. The Trojans are 13-2 at Riddle-Pace Field.
The Trojans move to 4-2 on the season in games decided by one run.
Troy's four runs are tied for its fewest in a win this season. The Trojans also defeated Louisiana 4-3 on March 14.
Steven Meier extended his on-base streak to 33 games dating back to last season, going 1-for-4.
Blake Cavill extended his on-base streak to 34 games dating back to last season, going 1-for-4
Harrison Bowman extended his hitting streak and on-base streak to seven games, going 1-for-2 with a walk and an HBP.
Gavin Schrader hit a two-run home run off Marshall starter Bryce Blevins in the sixth inning, his fifth homer of the season.
Schrader's home run was Troy's 38th home run of the season, and its first against a left-handed pitcher.
Schrader recorded two RBIs, his sixth multi-RBI game of the season.
Shane Lewis entered the game in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter. He had missed the previous 11 games due to injury.
Peryn Bland made his first career start, batting ninth and playing third base. Bland went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and two RBIs.
In his first career at-bat, Bland hit a two-RBI double down the third base line for his first career hit.
Garrett Gainous pitched 5.0 innings with four hits, one run, one earned run, three walks and seven strikeouts, earning the win.
Gainous' win was the 20th win of his career, which ties him for ninth in Troy history with Dean Cordova.
Gainous' seven strikeouts bring his career total to 244, which ranks fourth in Troy history.
Grayson Stewart pitched 2.1 innings in relief, recording a strikeout. It 225th strikeout of his career, which ranks sixth in Troy history.
Colby Frieda recorded his first career save, pitching the final 1.2 innings of the game and recording three strikeouts.

Quotables

Head Coach Skylar Meade on the clutch hits…

"I thought Blevins was incredibly competitive. Through every pitch with plus conviction. We just had two big, impactful swings. Peryn's ball down the third base line for the two-run double with two outs, and obviously Schrader got the breaking ball elevated and really punished it as he's been doing."

Meade on Gainous' performance…

"I thought Gary's compete was really good. The stuff was really good. I'm a fan of him throwing 93-plus when he's at 100 pitches. It's rare that we have guys go 100 pitches. I guess you manifest things, because I talked about how we never have guys throw 100 pitches and we had a guy get to 100 pitches today. I'm excited about that. Guys like him want to be out there."

Peryn Bland on his first career at-bat…

"My approach was just to slow down. Own the moment and be as relaxed as I can in my first at-bat and my first start in college baseball. I wanted to stay on the fastball, and that allowed me to keep the changeup fair down the line."

Gavin Schrader on his home run…

"The first couple of at-bats I wasn't seeing it too well. Had a talk with the coaches to sit curveball, sit offspeed. I stuck to the approach and I did damage with it.