Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Alabama
No. 19 Troy Set for Top 25 Tilt at No. 17 Alabama
3/4/2025 2:14:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - For a third week in a row, No.19 Troy is set for a ranked battle in the midweek as they're set to travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on No. 17 Alabama on Wednesday.
The Trojans are off to an 11-1 start to the season, tied for their best start in Troy's Division I history. Troy went 5-0 last week, knocking off No. 15 Mississippi State on the road behind a go-ahead ninth inning home run from Steven Meier and taking care of business at home with a win over UAB and a sweep over Penn.
The Troy offense has been one of the most dynamic in the country, ranking seventh in on-base percentage (.471) while scoring the 16th most runs per game (9.8). Brooks Bryan has driven in 22 runs to lead the Sun Belt Conference while Meier leads the conference in hits (20), doubles (8), stolen bases (9) along while leading all of college baseball in runs scored (25).
Troy senior Adam Falinski returns to the mound after starting the Trojans' first two midweek games at No. 25 Auburn and No. 15 Mississippi State. The right-hander held Mississippi State scoreless over his first four innings of work in Troy's 6-5 victory over the Bulldogs while striking out six. Falinski owns a 4.15 ERA in 8.2 innings this season and has struck out 11 hitters to just three walks.
ÂGameday Info
The Matchup: No. 19 Troy (11-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) at No. 17 Alabama (12-0, 0-0 SEC).
When: Wednesday, March 5 - 4 p.m. CT
Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Sewell-Thomas Stadium
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: Troy Sports Network
ÂProbable Starters
Troy: Adam Falinski (8.2 IP, 4.15 ERA), Sr., RHP
Alabama: TBA
ÂQuick Hitters
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Troy's 11-1 start to the 2025 season is tied for its best start in its Division I history. The Trojans also started the 2023 season 11-1.Â
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Troy entered the season ranked No. 25 in the D1Baseball Top 25 and has moved up to No. 19 after three weeks. 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's No. 19 ranking is one spot shy of its highest-ever national ranking (18th - 2011).Â
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Troy is 1-1 against SEC opponents. The Trojans' win at Mississippi State last week snapped a six-game losing streak against SEC foes.Â
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The Troy offense has been dominant through the first two three weeks of the season. Through games played Sunday, the Trojans rank in the top 50 nationally in:
                Walks (Fifth - 95)
                On-Base% (Seventh - .471)
                Runs (15th - 118)
                Runs Per Game (16th - 9.8)
                Doubles (22nd - 29)
                OPS (22nd - 1.001)
                Hits (28th - 124)
                Batting Average (31st - .322)
                Slugging% (34th - .530)
                Home Runs (42nd - 15)
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Leadoff hitter Steven Meier leads the Sun Belt in runs scored (25), hits (20), doubles (8), total bases (36) and stolen bases (9) through games played on Sunday. His 25 runs lead the country, and his eight doubles rank second.
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First baseman Blake Cavill ranks seventh nationally in walks (16) and ninth in on-base percentage (.641) through games played Sunday.
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With two home runs at Mississippi State on Tuesday, Shane Lewis is now tied for fifth in Troy history in home runs with Clint Robinson (37).Â
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Shane Lewis is tied with App State's Juan Correa for the Sun Belt lead in home runs (5), matching his total from last season.
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Brooks Bryan leads the Sun Belt and ranks seventh nationally in RBIs (22) through games played Sunday. Bryan's run production comes as no surprise, as he's batting .455 with runners in scoring position.Â
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Troy's pitchers combined for 10 strikeouts and zero walks in Sunday's 6-1 win over Penn. It was Troy's first game with double-digit strikeouts and zero walks since it struck out 11 in a 7-1 win over Louisiana on 3/18/22.Â
Scouting Alabama
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The Crimson Tide are off to a 12-0 start to the season. They will play a game at Jacksonville State on Tuesday before returning to Tuscaloosa to face Troy on Wednesday.Â
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Alabama is ranked in all five major polls this week, with its highest ranking being No. 17 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
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The Alabama offense ranks second in the nation in batting average (.348), third in OPS (1.130), third in home runs (29) and third in runs per game (12.0).Â
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Sophomore shortstop Justin Lebron leads the nation in RBIs (28) and ranks second in home runs (8).Â
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On the mound, Alabama is pitching to a 3.89 ERA with 10.2 strikeouts and 7.1 hits per nine innings.Â
Series Notes
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Alabama leads the all-time series 30-12
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The Crimson Tide have won each of the last eight meetings.
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Troy's last victory over Alabama was an 8-4 win in 2018.
