Troy Falls in Rubber Match at No. 12 Southern Miss

Sunday, March 22

Hattiesburg, Miss.

1 p.m.

Troy University

10-13, 3-3

Southern Miss

19-5, 3-3

Troy

Southern Miss

Troy Falls in Rubber Match at No. 12 Southern Miss

3/22/2026 5:13:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Troy was unable to hold on to an early 4-0 lead in Sunday's rubber match against No. 12 Southern Miss, falling to the Golden Eagles 5-4 at Pete Taylor Park.

The Trojans (10-13, 3-3 SBC) started out strong in the first with a leadoff double by Steven Meier before Aaron Piasecki knocked him in on a single. USM (19-5, 3-3 SBC) starter McCarty English was knocked out before recording an out in the third inning, loading the bases on a pair of singles by Meier and Josh Pyne and an HBP to Piasecki.

USM turned to one of its top bullpen arms, Camden Sunstrom, and the Trojans knocked in all three inherited runners on a two-run single by Blake Cavill and a fielder's choice from Drew Nelson. Sunstrom, however, was dominant over the next three innings, holding Troy scoreless, while JW Armistead (0.2 IP) and Camden Clark (2.1 IP) held Troy off the board in the final three frames.

Troy starter Tommy Egan struck out six on the day and held USM to just a pair of runs through the first five innings on a third-inning Davis Gillespie homer, but the tides turned in the sixth. Meier lost a Gray Eubanks popup in the sun for a one-out double, and after a two-out RBI single by Seth Smith, Egan's day was done.

Brock Tapper relieved Egan, and an infield single from pinch hitter Ben Higdon that ticked off his glove kept the inning going. After back-to-back walks, USM tied the game before Cooper Ellingworth entered to record the final out.

Southern Miss scored the game-winning run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly from Tucker Stockman after Matthew Russo led off with a walk and reached third on a wild pitch and a single. Ellingworth stranded the bases loaded in the eighth to give the Trojans one final shot, as Meier crashed into the centerfield wall for the inning-ending grab.

Meier's spectacular catch came at a cost, as the centerfielder who already had two hits and a stolen base on the day exited the game due to injury. Gavin Schrader pinch hit for Meier against Clark in the ninth, and led off with a flyout. Piasecki reached on a two-out single, but Clark, who has yet to allow an earned run this season, fanned Jimmy Janicki to end the ballgame.

Notables

Troy moves to 3-3 in Sun Belt Conference play following the series at Southern Miss, tying them for fourth through two weeks of league action.
Troy recorded double-digit hits in all three games of a series for the first time this season. The Trojans had 14 on Friday, 12 on Saturday, and 11 on Sunday.
Tommy Egan pitched 5.2 innings, his deepest start of the season.
Josh Pyne extended his hitting streak to ten games. He's hitting .386 during that stretch.
Jimmy Janicki extended his hitting streak to seven games. He's hitting .452 during that stretch.
Sean Darnell extended his hitting streak to five games. He's hitting .421 during that stretch.

Quotable
Head Coach Skylar Meade
"I don't like losing to them by one run. We've had times when some of these games are there to be won, and there's been some misfortune. As soon as we hit that bus, we'll be moved on. I know where our team is. We'll have to get after it."

Next Up
Troy hosts Samford at Riddle-Pace Field on Tuesday for its first home midweek game. The Trojans then head down to Tallahassee for a game at Florida A&M on Wednesday before continuing on at Georgia Southern next weekend.