Troy University Athletics
Wednesday, March 4
Nashville, Tenn.
3 p.m.
Troy University
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Vanderbilt
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Troy
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Vanderbilt
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Troy Closes Road Trip with Loss at Vanderbilt
3/4/2026 7:43:00 PM | Baseball
Nashville, Tenn. - Troy Baseball dropped a pitchers' duel at Vanderbilt 4-1 at Hawkins Field on Wednesday.
The Trojans threatened to claim an early lead after drawing a pair of walks and getting an infield single from Blake Cavill in the top of the first, but Nico Azpilcueta grounded into an inning-ending double play. From there, Vanderbilt's pitching staff settled in, limiting Troy to just three hits over the first eight innings.
Vanderbilt freshman right-hander Connor Hamilton was the first of five pitchers used by the Commodores, striking out two in 4.0 innings. Lefty Jakob Schulz and righty Luke Guth followed him with 2.0 scoreless innings apiece, each surrendering one hit.
Troy's pitching staff cruised through the first five innings, with Brock Tapper throwing 2.1 scoreless frames with three strikeouts and Cooper Ellingworth striking out two in 1.2 innings. Lefty Zach Crotchfelt pitched a 1-2-3 fifth on seven pitches, but Vandy third baseman Brodie Johnston took him deep to lead off the sixth inning.
Crotchfelt retired the next two hitters before Troy turned to freshman Matt Dill for the right-on-right matchup against first baseman Chris Maldanado, and the Vandy senior won the matchup with a solo homer on the first pitch he saw.
Vandy scored with some small ball in the seventh against Brady Richardson after a leadoff single by Korbin Reynolds. Reynolds moved to second on a sac bunt, to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch. The Commodores added a run in the eighth on a failed pickoff to second base that allowed centerfielder Braden Holcomb to score from third.
Troy was able to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth after trailing 4-0 after Vandy turned to Hudson Barton. Drew Nelson singled on a pitch that shockingly found the barrel behind his head and reached second on a wild pitch. Zaid Diaz pinch-hit for Azpilcueta and walked before the Commodores brought in Tristan Bristow.
Sean Darnell singled off Bristow and drove in Troy's only run on a single through the right side.
Troy brought powerful redshirt freshman Ty McGraw in for Nolan Book with two runners on, but the lefty hit into a double play back to the pitcher to end the ballgame.
Notables
"We've got to get some things going offensively. We didn't get it going tonight. We will, and I have no doubt about that."
Next Up
Troy returns home to Riddle-Pace Field for its final non-conference series against Maryland, Friday through Sunday.
The Trojans threatened to claim an early lead after drawing a pair of walks and getting an infield single from Blake Cavill in the top of the first, but Nico Azpilcueta grounded into an inning-ending double play. From there, Vanderbilt's pitching staff settled in, limiting Troy to just three hits over the first eight innings.
Vanderbilt freshman right-hander Connor Hamilton was the first of five pitchers used by the Commodores, striking out two in 4.0 innings. Lefty Jakob Schulz and righty Luke Guth followed him with 2.0 scoreless innings apiece, each surrendering one hit.
Troy's pitching staff cruised through the first five innings, with Brock Tapper throwing 2.1 scoreless frames with three strikeouts and Cooper Ellingworth striking out two in 1.2 innings. Lefty Zach Crotchfelt pitched a 1-2-3 fifth on seven pitches, but Vandy third baseman Brodie Johnston took him deep to lead off the sixth inning.
Crotchfelt retired the next two hitters before Troy turned to freshman Matt Dill for the right-on-right matchup against first baseman Chris Maldanado, and the Vandy senior won the matchup with a solo homer on the first pitch he saw.
Vandy scored with some small ball in the seventh against Brady Richardson after a leadoff single by Korbin Reynolds. Reynolds moved to second on a sac bunt, to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch. The Commodores added a run in the eighth on a failed pickoff to second base that allowed centerfielder Braden Holcomb to score from third.
Troy was able to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth after trailing 4-0 after Vandy turned to Hudson Barton. Drew Nelson singled on a pitch that shockingly found the barrel behind his head and reached second on a wild pitch. Zaid Diaz pinch-hit for Azpilcueta and walked before the Commodores brought in Tristan Bristow.
Sean Darnell singled off Bristow and drove in Troy's only run on a single through the right side.
Troy brought powerful redshirt freshman Ty McGraw in for Nolan Book with two runners on, but the lefty hit into a double play back to the pitcher to end the ballgame.
Notables
- Troy moves to 1-6 all-time against Vanderbilt. Wednesday's matchup was the Trojans' first meeting with the Commodores since the 2011 Nashville Regional, a 10-2 Vandy win.
- Brock Tapper struck out a season-high three hitters in 2.1 scoreless innings to start the game.
- Zaid Diaz made his Troy debut as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning, drawing a walk.
"We've got to get some things going offensively. We didn't get it going tonight. We will, and I have no doubt about that."
Next Up
Troy returns home to Riddle-Pace Field for its final non-conference series against Maryland, Friday through Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jakob Schulz (1-0)
L: Crotchfelt, Zach (0-1)
S: Tristan Bristow (1)
Batting:
2B: Janicki, Jimmy 1
RBI: Darnell, Sean 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nelson, Drew 1
SB: Piasecki, Aaron 1
HBP: Schrader, Gavin 1
Batting:
2B: Chris Maldonado 1 ; Mack Whitcomb 1
HR: Brodie Johnston 1 ; Chris Maldonado 1
RBI: Brodie Johnston 1 ; Chris Maldonado 1
SH: Rustan Rigdon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brodie Johnston 1 ; Braden Holcomb 1 ; Chris Maldonado 1 ; Korbin Reynolds 1
CS: Logan Johnstone 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP/UTL
/ Baseball
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
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