Troy's Sun Belt Tournament Run Ends in Pitcher's Duel with Southern Miss

Saturday, May 24

Montgomery, Ala.

9 a.m.

Troy University

39-21

Southern Miss

44-13

Troy

Southern Miss

Troy's Sun Belt Tournament Run Ends in Pitcher's Duel with Southern Miss

5/24/2025 1:14:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Third-seeded No. 22 Troy dropped a 2-1 pitcher's duel to second-seeded No. 14 Southern Miss to end its run at the Sun Belt Conference Championship on Saturday.

Troy left-hander Chase Nelson made his first career start with the Trojans playing their fourth game in as many days, and put together a career performance. The senior from Nashville, Tennessee went a career high 6.2 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs with one walk and a career high six strikeouts.

The only damage the southpaw surrendered to the Golden Eagles came on a two-run double by USM designated hitter Joey Urban on a popup that just barely hit in fair territory down the right field line. Nelson followed with 5.2 consecutive scoreless frames, and did not allow a hit past the fourth inning.

Troy struck in the top of the first on an RBI double by Sean Darnell, but stranded two base runners to end the inning. The Trojans outhit the Golden Eagles 9-4 on the day and recorded six hits against Southern Miss starter Grayden Harris in his 3.1 innings, but Darnell's RBI was the only run the Trojans put across, stranding 12 runners in nine innings.

Jay Dill followed Nelson in relief with 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing one walk while striking out four. The Southern Miss bullpen of lefty Kros Sivley and righty Colby Allen was just as strong, combining for 5.2 scoreless innings on three hits.

Troy closes the conference tournament with a 39-21 record on the season, and will await its NCAA Tournament fate with the selection show slated for 11 a.m. on Monday.

Quick Hitters

Troy enters Selection Monday with a 39-31 record. Troy's 39 wins is the same amount of wins the Trojans' 2023 regional team had entering Selection Monday.
Troy used its 49th different lineup this season.
Troy outhit Southern Miss 9-4. The Trojans are 26-5 when out-hitting their opponent.
Troy held Southern Miss to two runs. The Trojans are now 11-1 when holding their opponent to two-or-fewer runs.
Troy is 11-6 in games decided by one run
Blake Cavill extended his on-base streak to 65 games dating back to last season, going 1-for-5.
Steven Meier extended his on-base streak to 12 games, going 2-for-4 with an HBP. Meier has reached base safely in 57-of-58 games played this season.
Meier recorded his 18th multi-hit game of the season.
Meier's HBP was his 29th of the season, which is the most in a single-season in Troy history and tied for fourth nationally.
Brooks Bryan extended his on-base streak to 12 games, drawing a walk.
Jimmy Janicki recorded his 16th multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-5.
Sean Darnell extended his hitting streak and on-base streak to eight games, going 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Darnell recorded his 16th double of the season, which is tied for seventh in the Sun Belt.
Darnell recorded his 52nd RBI of the season, which ranks sixth in the Sun Belt.
Gavin Schrader recorded his 11th multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4.
Chase Nelson made his first career start, recording career highs in innings pitched (6.2) and strikeouts (6). Nelson held Southern Miss to four hits, one walk and allowed two earned runs.
Jay Dill pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief with one walk and four strikeouts.

Quotable - Head Coach Skylar Meade
"An incredible game. We botched it in the first. You never know when the moment is, and we gave them extra outs in the first. Chase really battled through, executed. Got the popup, got the strikeout. Got the fly ball and it's just unfortunate what happened. We had runners on, and runners on, and runners on, and we weren't able to capitalize on the moment."