No. 18 Troy Tops ULM 9-3 in Series Opener

Thursday, April 17

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

27-11, 11-5

ULM

19-20, 5-11

ULM

Troy

4/17/2025 11:01:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. - The bats were hot in No. 18 Troy's return to Riddle-Pace Field, as the Trojans topped ULM 9-3 in Thursday's series opener in their first game back from a seven-game road trip.

The Trojans got multi-hit performances from Sean Darnell (2-for-5), Jimmy Janicki (2-for-5), Brooks Bryan (3-for-5) and Gavin Schrader (2-for-4) on their way to outhitting the Warhawks 12-8. Troy knocked ULM starter Joey Cirelli out of the ballgame after 2.2 innings, pegging him for four earned runs on a Steven Meier RBI groundout in the first, an RBI single by Darnell in the second and a two-run double from Bryan in the third.

Troy put up a three-spot against reliever Landon Grigg in the sixth. Mike Bello doubled and scored from second on a Jakob Wax bunt as ULM first baseman Michelle Artzberger overthrew the bag at third base. Wax scored on a balk before a double by Darnell and a single by Janicki brought home another. In the seventh, Markham provided the Trojans some insurance on a two-run single to left field.

Garrett Gainous gave the Trojans 5.0 innings of one-run ball, earning the 22nd win of his career which ties him for fifth in Troy history. The righty from Cairo, Ga., stranded the bases loaded with a strikeout in the top of the first, and finished with four hits, one run, one earned run, three walks and three strikeouts.

Adam Falinski racked up three strikeouts in the sixth, allowing one run across, while Colby Frieda held the Warhawks to one run in 2.0 innings with two strikeouts. Brock Tapper closed things out in the ninth, striking out the side while issuing just one baserunner on a walk.

Game 2 between No. 18 Troy (27-11, 11-5 SBC) and ULM (19-20, 5-11 SBC) is slated for 6 p.m. on Friday. Junior right-hander Noah Edders will take the mound for the Trojans while the Warhawks will start sophomore righty Daniel Gonzalez.

Quick Hitters

Troy is 16-3 at Riddle-Pace Field this season.
Troy is 8-2 in the opening game of a series this season.
Troy committed zero errors. The Trojans are 11-3 when playing errorless defense.
Troy's 12 hits are tied for its second-most hits in a Sun Belt Conference game this season. The Trojans recorded 12 hits against Coastal Carolina (Mar. 23) and 16 against Lousiana (Mar. 16).
Troy struck out just five times and drew five walks. It's the 13th time this season the Trojans have had an even-or-better strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Houston Markham extended his on-base streak to six games, going 1-for-4 with a single, an HBP and two RBIs.
Markham recorded his fourth multi-RBI game of the season.
Blake Cavill extended his on-base streak to 43 games dating back to last season, drawing two walks.
Sean Darnell went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI. It was his 12th multi-hit game of the season.
Jimmy Janicki extended his hitting streak and on-base streak to seven games, going 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Janicki recorded his seventh multi-hit game of the season.
Brooks Bryan went 3-for-5 with and double and two RBIs. It was his 12th multi-hit, fourth three-plus hit and 15th multi-RBI game of the season.
Bryan's double was his tenth of the season, which matches his total from 2024.
Bryan's two RBIs bring his season RBI total to 47. He entered the weekend with a Sun Belt-leading 45 RBIs.
Steven Meier extended his on-base streak to 43 games dating back to last season, drawing a walk.
Gavin Schrader went 2-for-4 with a double. It was his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
Mike Bello made his first start since March 16 at Louisiana, playing left field. Bello went 1-for-3 with a double and an HBP.
Jakob Wax scored a career-high three runs. He went 1-for-1 on the night with a single, two walks and a sacrifice bunt.
Troy's pitching staff struck out 11 hitters, which is tied for their most strikeouts in a Sun Belt Conference game this season. The Trojans also struck out 11 against Marshall (3/28) and Old Dominion (4/5).
Garrett Gainous recorded the win, bringing his record to 6-1. It was the 22nd win of Gainous' career, which is tied for the fifth most in Troy history with four other pitchers, including his teammate Grayson Stewart.
Gainous recorded three strikeouts, bringing his career total to 257. He is two strikeouts shy of Tyler Ray for the third-most in Troy history.
Brock Tapper struck out the side in the ninth inning. Tapper has been scoreless in his last two appearances (4.2 IP).

Quotables

Head coach Skylar Meade on the win…

"It was great to be back at RPF (Riddle-Pace Field). I thought the guys had a renewed, vigorant energy. The two-out hits were certainly helpful, which we had a good amount of those tonight. Brooks, Jimmy and Mr. Markham come to mind."

Meade the pitching…

"Gary really grinded on the pitching side. He wasn't his best, but he grinded and competed which you know we need to do at the highest level. I thought Falinski really figured some things out which will prove to be pivotal as we go. Frieda was Frieda."

"Tapper was really good in the ninth. I was very proud of him and his aggressiveness to and through the strike zone."

Brooks Bryan on returning home…

"It's always awesome coming back to RPF, getting a win like that and getting the offense rolling back together."

Sean Darnell on his performance…

"They through some good pitches that I had some good swings on. It's luck of the draw. Sometimes they fall and sometimes they don't."