Troy Tops Maryland 5-2 in Series Opener

Friday, March 6

Troy, Ala.

7 p.m.

Troy University

6-7

Maryland

8-5

Maryland

Troy

3/6/2026 11:49:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. - A gem from Tommy Egan and a three-run blast by Aaron Piasecki lifted Troy to a 5-2 over Maryland in Friday night's series opener at Riddle-Pace Field.

Egan set the tone for the Trojans (6-7), striking out seven Terrapins (8-5) across 5.0 shutout innings while allowing five hits and one walk. Maryland right-hander Lance Williams was equally impressive, recording 10 strikeouts over 6.0 innings, but a pair of timely swings proved to be the difference as Troy pushed across four runs against the sophomore.

In the bottom of the third, Blake Cavill was hit by a pitch with one out, and an errant throw to second on a Jimmy Janicki grounder to third left two runners on for Aaron Piasecki, who was batting in the three-hole for the first time this season. The Troy centerfielder pounced on a 1–0 fastball, driving it 345 feet over the Trojan Wall in right field.

In the fourth, Sean Darnell led off by being hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position on a Josh Pyne sacrifice bunt. Zaid Diaz followed with a single through the right side, collecting his first hit and RBI as a Trojan to extend Troy's lead to 4-0.

Troy added insurance in the eighth when Nolan Book delivered an RBI single after a Drew Nelson base hit and a Josh Pyne walk against Maryland left-hander Joseph Fredericks.

Cooper Ellingworth tossed a season-high 3.2 innings out of the bullpen, striking out three while allowing two hits and issuing five walks. He worked three scoreless frames before Maryland second baseman David Mendez broke up the shutout with a two-out, two-run double into the left-center gap. Dylan Alonso quickly closed the door, inducing a groundout from three-hole hitter Ryan Costello to secure his third save of the season.

Notables

Troy is 6-1 when scoring first.
Troy is 6-1 in games in which they've hit a home run.
Troy is 80-26 under Skylar Meade when its starting pitcher goes at least five innings.
Troy is 7-1 against Big Ten opponents under Skylar Meade.
Tommy Egan has pitched 5.0 innings in all four of his starts this season.
Cooper Ellingworth pitched a season-long 3.2 innings out of the bullpen, matching his season high of three strikeouts.
Dylan Alonso earned his team-high third save of the year. Alonso recorded the final out of the ballgame after entering with a runner on second and the tying run on deck.
Aaron Piasecki hit his third home run of the season, which ties Jimmy Janicki for the team lead. Piasecki's three homers match his total from last season at Central Michigan.
Piasecki's three RBIs were a season high and matched his career high. Piasecki also picked up his fourth-multi RBI game of the season, which leads the team.
Zaid Diaz made his first start as a Trojan, going 1-for-3 with an RBI single and a walk.

Quotables
Head Coach Skylar Meade on Piasecki's homer impacting the game…
"That one impactful swing is kind of how Friday nights can be. We were hoping to finish it 5-0. They ended up getting the runs on a good swing from [David] Mendez. But that being said, it's kind of what it looks like. Their arm [Lance Williams] is really good."

Tommy Egan on his start…
"I just go out there, try to mog. Do the usual and just throw pitches in the zone."

Aaron Piasecki on his homer...
"I was just looking for a pitch to drive. We hadn't been great with runners in scoring position this year. We've got to take every opportunity that we get, and I'm glad I capitalized on that one."

Next Up
Game two between Troy and Maryland is slated for 3:33 p.m. at Riddle-Pace Field.