Troy University Athletics
Troy University
James Madison
No. 18 Troy Hits Last Stop on Road Trip at James Madison
4/10/2025 2:54:00 PM | Baseball
HARRISONBURG, Va. - No. 18 Troy will make its last stop on its road trip to Virginia this weekend with a three-game Sun Belt series at James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va.
The Trojans opened its road trip with a 2-1 series victory at Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., last week. Troy shut out the Monarchs 7-0 on Friday night and battled to a 4-3 win on Saturday before falling 9-5 in Sunday's finale. On Wednesday, Troy faced off against No. 25 Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., dropping a 3-1 pitchers duel despite 6.0 shutout innings from the bullpen trio of Grayson Stewart, Noah Thigpen and Luke Lyon.
Troy enters the weekend as one of five teams in college baseball to win all eight of its weekend series this season. The top of the lineup has come through for the Trojans in those series victories, as leadoff hitter Steven Meier and two-hole hitter Blake Cavill have reached base safely in every game they've played in this season, while cleanup hitter Brooks Bryan leads the Sun Belt with 44 RBIs.Â
Senior right-hander Garrett Gainous returns to the mound on Friday night after becoming the fourth pitcher in Troy history to record 250 career strikeouts last week. Gainous pitched 7.0 shutout innings, holding the Monarchs to two hits while racking up six punchouts. On Saturday, righty Noah Edders will take the mound amid a dominant junior campaign that his him ranked fourth in the Sun Belt with 48 strikeouts. Head coach Skylar Meade has not named a starter for Sunday's series finale.
ÂGameday Info
The Matchup: No. 18 Troy (24-10, 8-4 Sun Belt) at James Madison (11-22, 4-8 Sun Belt)
Game Times: Friday - 5 p.m. CT | Saturday - 3 p.m. CT | Sunday - 10 a.m. CT
Location: Harrisonburg, Va. - Eagle Field
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
ÂProbable Starters
Game 1
Troy: Garrett Gainous (5-0, 39.1 IP, 3.20 ERA), RHP, Sr.
JMU: Jackson Logar (2-3, 42.1 IP, 2.98 ERA), RHP, So.
Game 2
Troy: Noah Edders (3-0, 43.1 IP, 4.57 ERA), RHP, Jr.
JMU: Casey Smith (1-2, 32.0 IP, 6.19 ERA), RHP, Sr.
Game 3
Troy: TBA
JMU: TBA
ÂQuick Hitters
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 Troy was ranked in all five major polls this week, topping at No. 18 in the Perfect Game Top 25. The Trojans were also ranked No. 19 in the NCBWA Top 25, No. 20 by D1Baseball, and No. 21 by Baseball America and the USA Today Coaches Poll.
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Troy has won each of its first eight weekend series for the first time since 2011.Â
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Troy is one of five teams to win all of its weekend series this season, joining Arkansas, Clemson, Texas and UCLA.
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Friday starter Garrett Gainous became the fourth pitcher in Troy history to record 250 career strikeouts with six strikeouts in 7.0 shutout innings on Old Dominion on Friday. He joins Jason Fawcett (425), Shane McCain (273), and Tyler Ray (259).Â
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Gainous ranks eighth in the Sun Belt Conference in ERA (3.20). His 2.14 ERA in Sun Belt games also ranks eighth.Â
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Saturday starter Noah Edders ranks fourth in the Sun Belt with 48 strikeouts this season. In Sun Belt games, Edders has struck out 28 hitters, which ranks third in the conference.
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Leadoff hitter Steven Meier ranks seventh nationally in HBPs (17) and 17th nationally in runs scored (46). He leads the Sun Belt in both categories.
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First baseman Blake Cavill ranks fourth nationally in walks (37) and 14th in on-base percentage (.539). Cavill is drawing a walk in 24.0% of his plate appearances this season.
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Brooks Bryan leads the Sun Belt Conference in RBIs (44), six more than South Alabama's Kyle Morrison for second place (38).Â
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Freshman Jimmy Janicki is whiffing on just 7.8% of his swings this season. It's the second-best whiff rate in the Sun Belt and the second-best nationally among true freshmen.Â
Scouting James Madison
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James Madison enters the weekend with an 11-22 overall record under 10th-year head coach Marlin Ikenberry. The Dukes are tied for 12th place in the Sun Belt standings at 4-8.Â
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The JMU pitching staff ranks seventh in the Sun Belt with a 5.45 team ERA. The Dukes rank eighth in the conference in hits per nine innings (9.18), 12th in walks per nine innings (5.16) and sixth in strikeouts per nine innings (9.0).Â
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Friday starter Jackson Logar ranks fifth in the Sun Belt with a 2.98 ERA.Â
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The JMU offense ranks 14th in the Sun Belt with a .211 team batting average. The Dukes also rank 14th in home runs (12) and 14th in runs per game (3.8).
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James Madison ranks third nationally in sacrifice bunts (34) while leading the Sun Belt in stolen bases (59).
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Senior infielder Coleman Calabrese leads the Dukes in batting average (.286), OPS (.799), doubles (10) and home runs (3).
Series History
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Troy owns a 2-2 all-time record against James Madison.
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The two teams last met for a three-game series in Troy last season, with James Madison winning the series 2-1.
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The first meeting between Troy and JMU came on Feb. 21, 2009, at the Caravelle Resort Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where the Trojans defeated the Dukes 6-3.
