Troy University Athletics
Thursday, April 2
Troy, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
vs
Arkansas State
Troy Hosts Arkansas State for Three-Game Set
4/1/2026 4:38:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - Troy Baseball returns to Sun Belt Conference action at Riddle-Pace Field this weekend with a three-game series against Arkansas State Thursday through Saturday.
The Trojans spent their last two Sun Belt weekends on the road at No. 12 Southern and Georgia Southern, going 1-2 in both series. After winning the finale at Georgia Southern Sunday, Troy run-ruled Alabama State 14-2 at Riddle-Pace Field on Tuesday behind a nine-run first inning with a grand slam by Sean Darnell.
Troy put together two of its most patient games at the plate in those two recent wins, walking 11 times on Sunday before drawing 15 walks on Tuesday, its two highest totals of the season. Senior Blake Cavill has been a master in that department, reaching base in his last 18 games with 16 free passes on ten walks and six HBPs during that span.
Heading into the weekend, senior southpaw Benjamin Stubbs will open things up for the Trojans Thursday night as the Trojan ace carries a 3.12 ERA across his seven starts. Troy hasn't named a starter for Friday, while senior righty Tommy Egan will close out the weekend as the Trojan leader in strikeouts (44).
Arkansas State will trot out a trio of graduate left-handers this weekend. Chase Richter and Jack Nelson each carry a 4.21 ERA through 36.1 innings on Thursday and Friday, while Dylan Farley has been stellar in series finales with a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings. As a whole, the Red Wolves' pitching staff ranks 16th nationally with a 3.67 team ERA, in large part due to the fact that they're walking just 3.09 hitters per nine innings, the fourth-best mark in college baseball.
Offensively, the Red Wolves are hitting .268 as a team, but have some big-time power in the lineup with the second-most homers in the Sun Belt (47). Lane Walton is hitting .282 and is tied for the SBC lead with ten home runs, while Derek Martinez is the team's leading hitter at .368 to go along with seven homers.
Series Information
The Matchup: Troy (13-16, 4-5 Sun Belt) vs. Arkansas State (18-10, 5-4 Sun Belt)
Game Times: Thursday - 6 p.m. | Friday - 6 p.m. | Saturday - 1 p.m.
Location: Troy, Ala. - Riddle-Pace Field
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyTrojans.com/LiveStats
Master's Weekend at Riddle-Pace Field
Game 1
A-State: Gr. LHP Chase Richter (2-2, 36.1 IP, 4.21 ERA)
Troy: Sr. LHP Benjamin Stubbs (2-0, 40.1 IP, 3.12 ERA)
Game 2
A-State: Gr. LHP Jack Nelson (2-2, 36.1 IP, 4.21 ERA)
Troy: TBA
Game 3
A-State: Gr. LHP Dylan Farley (4-1, 30.0 IP, 2.40 ERA)
Troy: Sr. RHP Tommy Egan (2-1, 36.0 IP, 4.75 ERA)
The Ides of Benjamin
Troy LHP Benjamin Stubbs had a dominant month of March, posting a 2.38 ERA across five starts. Stubbs went seven innings in four of his five starts, totaling 30 strikeouts to five walks while holding hitters to a .200 average across 34 innings.
Most recently, Stubbs struck out a career high 12 hitters across seven innings at Georgia Southern last Friday, walking just one. Stubbs carried a no-hitter through six innings before allowing two hits and a run in the seventh.
Janicki Named to Buster Posey Award Watch List
Troy catcher Jimmy Janicki was one of 50 college baseball catchers named to the Buster Posey Award Midseason Watch List on Wednesday. Janicki had a stellar first half of the 2026 campaign, leading Troy with a .339 batting average, 1.066 OPS, eight home runs and 34 RBIs. The Downers Grove, Ill., native ranks No. 18 in Baseball America's 2027 MLB Draft rankings while taking the No. 1 spot among college catchers in the 2027 draft class.
Darny Delivers
Troy second baseman Sean Darnell has been playing his best baseball since moving to the 9-hole two weeks ago. In nine games at the bottom of the lineup, Darnell is hitting .346, raising his average from .213 to .248 during that stretch.Â
Darnell hit his first two home runs of the season in Troy's last two games, homering in the ninth inning at Georgia Southern on Sunday before crushing a grand slam in the first inning against Alabama State on Tuesday.
Series History
Troy leads the all-time series with Arkansas State 42-17 and has won three straight series over the Red Wolves.
The Trojans spent their last two Sun Belt weekends on the road at No. 12 Southern and Georgia Southern, going 1-2 in both series. After winning the finale at Georgia Southern Sunday, Troy run-ruled Alabama State 14-2 at Riddle-Pace Field on Tuesday behind a nine-run first inning with a grand slam by Sean Darnell.
Troy put together two of its most patient games at the plate in those two recent wins, walking 11 times on Sunday before drawing 15 walks on Tuesday, its two highest totals of the season. Senior Blake Cavill has been a master in that department, reaching base in his last 18 games with 16 free passes on ten walks and six HBPs during that span.
Heading into the weekend, senior southpaw Benjamin Stubbs will open things up for the Trojans Thursday night as the Trojan ace carries a 3.12 ERA across his seven starts. Troy hasn't named a starter for Friday, while senior righty Tommy Egan will close out the weekend as the Trojan leader in strikeouts (44).
Arkansas State will trot out a trio of graduate left-handers this weekend. Chase Richter and Jack Nelson each carry a 4.21 ERA through 36.1 innings on Thursday and Friday, while Dylan Farley has been stellar in series finales with a 2.40 ERA in 30 innings. As a whole, the Red Wolves' pitching staff ranks 16th nationally with a 3.67 team ERA, in large part due to the fact that they're walking just 3.09 hitters per nine innings, the fourth-best mark in college baseball.
Offensively, the Red Wolves are hitting .268 as a team, but have some big-time power in the lineup with the second-most homers in the Sun Belt (47). Lane Walton is hitting .282 and is tied for the SBC lead with ten home runs, while Derek Martinez is the team's leading hitter at .368 to go along with seven homers.
Series Information
The Matchup: Troy (13-16, 4-5 Sun Belt) vs. Arkansas State (18-10, 5-4 Sun Belt)
Game Times: Thursday - 6 p.m. | Friday - 6 p.m. | Saturday - 1 p.m.
Location: Troy, Ala. - Riddle-Pace Field
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyTrojans.com/LiveStats
Master's Weekend at Riddle-Pace Field
- Thursday(Master's Weekend Kickoff):Â The first 100 fans will receive a white Troy Master's-style caddie hat, with $10 presale field-level tickets available and Thirsty Thursday specials featuring $2 draft beer and 16oz soda
- Friday (Master's Weekend / First Responders Game):Â The first 100 fans will pick up a Master's-themed golf towel, while first responders receive one free ticket and $5 GA admission with promo code FRD alongside $2 draft beer and $3 hot dogs
- Saturday(Master's Weekend / Military Saturday):Â Military members and Kids Club members receive free admission.
- Series Concession Special: Arnold Palmer available at all three games.
Game 1
A-State: Gr. LHP Chase Richter (2-2, 36.1 IP, 4.21 ERA)
Troy: Sr. LHP Benjamin Stubbs (2-0, 40.1 IP, 3.12 ERA)
Game 2
A-State: Gr. LHP Jack Nelson (2-2, 36.1 IP, 4.21 ERA)
Troy: TBA
Game 3
A-State: Gr. LHP Dylan Farley (4-1, 30.0 IP, 2.40 ERA)
Troy: Sr. RHP Tommy Egan (2-1, 36.0 IP, 4.75 ERA)
The Ides of Benjamin
Troy LHP Benjamin Stubbs had a dominant month of March, posting a 2.38 ERA across five starts. Stubbs went seven innings in four of his five starts, totaling 30 strikeouts to five walks while holding hitters to a .200 average across 34 innings.
Most recently, Stubbs struck out a career high 12 hitters across seven innings at Georgia Southern last Friday, walking just one. Stubbs carried a no-hitter through six innings before allowing two hits and a run in the seventh.
Janicki Named to Buster Posey Award Watch List
Troy catcher Jimmy Janicki was one of 50 college baseball catchers named to the Buster Posey Award Midseason Watch List on Wednesday. Janicki had a stellar first half of the 2026 campaign, leading Troy with a .339 batting average, 1.066 OPS, eight home runs and 34 RBIs. The Downers Grove, Ill., native ranks No. 18 in Baseball America's 2027 MLB Draft rankings while taking the No. 1 spot among college catchers in the 2027 draft class.
Darny Delivers
Troy second baseman Sean Darnell has been playing his best baseball since moving to the 9-hole two weeks ago. In nine games at the bottom of the lineup, Darnell is hitting .346, raising his average from .213 to .248 during that stretch.Â
Darnell hit his first two home runs of the season in Troy's last two games, homering in the ninth inning at Georgia Southern on Sunday before crushing a grand slam in the first inning against Alabama State on Tuesday.
Series History
Troy leads the all-time series with Arkansas State 42-17 and has won three straight series over the Red Wolves.
Players Mentioned
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RHP
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LHP
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