Troy University Athletics
Saturday, March 14
Troy, Ala.
3:33 p.m.
Troy University
7-11, 1-1
13
vs
4
Old Dominion
9-8, 1-1
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
7th innning7
8th innning8
9th innning9
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Old Dominion
0
1
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
4
10
1
Troy
6
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
X
13
12
1
Troy Evens Series with Old Dominion Behind Offensive Explosion
3/14/2026 8:29:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - Troy exploded for 13 runs in the first two innings, and it was all it needed to defeat Old Dominion 13-4 to even the series on Saturday.
The Trojans (7-11, 1-1 SBC) batted around in each of the first two innings, chasing ODU (9-8, 1-1 SBC) starter Darin Kuskie after just one frame. Troy pounded out five hits in the opening inning, including one from each of its first four batters, and scored six runs. Nolan Book capped the rally with a two-run single.
The power came in the second innings when the Trojans scored seven runs, blasting three homers. Catcher Jimmy Janicki launched a two-run homer 407 feet, his seventh of the season and fourth in the last three games. Right fielder Zaid Diaz went back-to-back with Janicki, as the Chipola College transfer went opposite field for his first Division-I homer over the left field wall. Book capped off the fun with a three-run homer, his first as a Trojan after transferring from Mount St. Mary's, giving him five RBIs on the day.
On the mound, left-hander Benjamin Stubbs gave the Trojans seven quality innings. The senior pounded the strike zone, allowing zero walks to four strikeouts, allowing four runs - three earned - on nine hits. It's the third consecutive start that the Flagler transfer went at least six innings, though Saturday's win was Stubbs' first as a Trojan.
Freshman Matt Dill shut the door in the final two innings, retiring six of the seven hitters he faced. The righty struck out a season-best three hitters while allowing just one hit.
Notables
Head Coach Skylar Meade
"When you have innings when you score a lot, multiple pitchers are used, it can be difficult. I thought Stubbs handled it like an ultimate pro. And the part that tells me he handled it like a pro isn't the seven innings, only three earned. It's the fact that you don't walk anybody. It means you're commanding your body. Commanding your mind. You're understanding the assignment, and you're in attack. If you're in attack, the game always rewards you."
Nolan Book
"Steve [Meier] started us off. Gave us the momentum. We strung hits together and played well, swung the bat well."
Benjamin Stubbs
"You pitch to the lead is what I've always been taught. You keep getting outs, you keep getting going. If they get one, that's fine, because you've still got six more runs you can give up. You've just got to keep pitching and keep doing what makes you successful."
Next Up
Game three between Troy and Old Dominion is slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday at Riddle-Pace Field.
The Trojans (7-11, 1-1 SBC) batted around in each of the first two innings, chasing ODU (9-8, 1-1 SBC) starter Darin Kuskie after just one frame. Troy pounded out five hits in the opening inning, including one from each of its first four batters, and scored six runs. Nolan Book capped the rally with a two-run single.
The power came in the second innings when the Trojans scored seven runs, blasting three homers. Catcher Jimmy Janicki launched a two-run homer 407 feet, his seventh of the season and fourth in the last three games. Right fielder Zaid Diaz went back-to-back with Janicki, as the Chipola College transfer went opposite field for his first Division-I homer over the left field wall. Book capped off the fun with a three-run homer, his first as a Trojan after transferring from Mount St. Mary's, giving him five RBIs on the day.
On the mound, left-hander Benjamin Stubbs gave the Trojans seven quality innings. The senior pounded the strike zone, allowing zero walks to four strikeouts, allowing four runs - three earned - on nine hits. It's the third consecutive start that the Flagler transfer went at least six innings, though Saturday's win was Stubbs' first as a Trojan.
Freshman Matt Dill shut the door in the final two innings, retiring six of the seven hitters he faced. The righty struck out a season-best three hitters while allowing just one hit.
Notables
- Troy's pitching staff walked zero hitters for the first time this season.
- Benjamin Stubbs' seven innings were tied for the longest start of his career. He's done so twice this season and four times overall.
- Freshman Matt Dill's three strikeouts were a season high.
- Troy hit three home runs in the second inning. It's the first time they've homered three times in an inning since April 14, 2024, at App State.
- Troy's offense drew seven walks and five HBPs, which is the most free passes they've drawn in a game this season.
- Steven Meier reached base four times out of the leadoff spot, going 2-for-4 with a walk and and HBP.
- Josh Pyne improved his hit streak to five games with a 2-for-5 day at the plate.
- Aaron Piasecki went 2-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs. His six multi-RBI games this season lead the team.
- Piasecki played second base for the first time this season. He played 55 games at second base for Central Michigan last season, and has started games at shortstop, centerfield, and right field for Troy this season.
- Jimmy Janicki homered for the third consecutive game. He's the first Trojan to do so since Brooks Bryan homered in four straight games from April 20-27, 2024.
- Janicki went 2-for-5 with three RBIs. His ten multi-hit games this season lead the team, and his five multi-RBI games rank second.
- Zaid Diaz hit his first Division-I home run in the second inning.
- Drew Nelson drew a career-high three walks.
- Ty McGraw made his first career start. He went 0-for-2 with two HBPs, including one with the bases loaded in the first inning for an RBI.
- Sean Darnell started at first base for the first time this season. Previously, he had only played first base in the bottom of the 12th inning of Troy's win at Georgia, as starting first baseman Blake Cavill had been pinch-run for in the top of the frame.
- Nolan Book went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and five RBIs. His three hits were a season high, and his five RBIs tied his career high.
Head Coach Skylar Meade
"When you have innings when you score a lot, multiple pitchers are used, it can be difficult. I thought Stubbs handled it like an ultimate pro. And the part that tells me he handled it like a pro isn't the seven innings, only three earned. It's the fact that you don't walk anybody. It means you're commanding your body. Commanding your mind. You're understanding the assignment, and you're in attack. If you're in attack, the game always rewards you."
Nolan Book
"Steve [Meier] started us off. Gave us the momentum. We strung hits together and played well, swung the bat well."
Benjamin Stubbs
"You pitch to the lead is what I've always been taught. You keep getting outs, you keep getting going. If they get one, that's fine, because you've still got six more runs you can give up. You've just got to keep pitching and keep doing what makes you successful."
Next Up
Game three between Troy and Old Dominion is slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday at Riddle-Pace Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Stubbs, Benjamin (1-0)
L: Kuskie, Darin (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Aiken, TJ 1 ; Stallings, Maverick 1 ; Johnson, Will 1
HR: Stallings, Maverick 1
RBI: Stallings, Maverick 1 ; Dye, Macaddin 1 ; Sparr, Grayson 1
SF: Sparr, Grayson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zedalis, Tyler 1 ; Stallings, Maverick 2 ; Dye, Macaddin 1
Batting:
2B: Book, Nolan 1
HR: Janicki, Jimmy 1 ; Book, Nolan 1 ; Diaz, Zaid 1
RBI: McGraw, Ty 1 ; Janicki, Jimmy 3 ; Darnell, Sean 1 ; Book, Nolan 5 ; Diaz, Zaid 1 ; Piasecki, Aaron 2
SH: Diaz, Zaid 2
Base Running:
RUNS: McGraw, Ty 1 ; Janicki, Jimmy 2 ; Darnell, Sean 1 ; Nelson, Drew 2 ; Meier, Steven 2 ; Book, Nolan 1 ; Diaz, Zaid 1 ; Piasecki, Aaron 2 ; Pyne, Josh 1
SB: Piasecki, Aaron 1
HBP: McGraw, Ty 2 ; Meier, Steven 1 ; Piasecki, Aaron 1 ; Pyne, Josh 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
5
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP/UTL
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballEric Newell Postgame Press Conference (South Alabama Game 2)
Saturday, March 14
Skylar Meade, Nolan Book & Benjamin Stubbs Postgame - ODU Game 2
Saturday, March 14
Eric Newell Postgame Press Conference (South Alabama Game 1)
Saturday, March 14
Skylar Meade Postgame - ODU Game 1
Friday, March 13