Troy Falls Short in 7-6 Loss to Louisiana

Saturday, April 18

Troy, Ala.

3:33 p.m.

Troy University

19-20, 9-8

Louisiana

22-16, 7-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Louisiana	0	0	3	2	2	0	0	0	0	7	14	0
Troy	0	0	0	2	0	1	3	0	0	6	14	2

4/18/2026 7:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. - Troy's comeback fell short on Saturday, cutting a 7-2 Louisiana lead to 7-6 in a one-run loss as the Ragin' Cajuns evened the series.

The Trojans (19-20, 9-8 SBC) managed just two runs in the first five innings against Louisiana (22-16, 7-10 SBC) lefty Andrew Herrmann, highlighted by a fourth-inning solo shot by Drew Nelson, but started to surge in the sixth when Caden Reeves hit an RBI double.

When the Cajuns turned to their bullpen in the seventh, Josh Pyne singled off Parker Smith and Jimmy Janicki brought him in on a double. The next batter, Steven Meier, launched a two-run homer over the Trojan Wall in right field to cut the lead to one, but Louisiana's Hayden Pearson and Garret Carter held Troy scoreless in both the eighth and ninth despite the Trojans having traffic on the bases in both innings.

The Cajuns scored all seven of their runs in the middle innings, scoring three in the third and two apiece in the fourth and fifth. Troy starter Tommy Egan went four innings, leaving after a leadoff single in the fifth. He struck out two and allowed six runs and four earned runs on nine hits and two walks, including a two-run homer by Louisiana leadoff man Donovan LaSalle in the third.

Cooper Ellingworth kept Troy within striking distance with four strong innings of relief. He allowed one unearned run in the fifth before following it up with three zeroes, striking out four without a walk. Brock Tapper kept Louisiana off the board in the ninth as Drew Markle, who hit an infield single, was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on a two-out double by Rigoberto Hernandez on a clean relay by Nelson in left field and third baseman Josh Pyne.

Notables

Saturday's attendance of 2,866 was the 14th largest crowd in Riddle-Pace Field history.
Troy had all nine starters record a hit for the first time this season.
Blake Cavill extended his reached base streak to 28 games.
Josh Pyne and Sean Darnell extended their reached base streaks to 12 games.
Nolan Book extended his hitting streak to six games.
Jimmy Janicki, Drew Nelson, Steven Meier and Blake Cavill each extended their hitting streaks to five games.
Janicki drove in his 50th RBI of the season, which leads the Sun Belt.
Nelson's solo homer in the fourth inning was his second home run of the season and his career. It traveled 361 feet with an exit velocity of 103 MPH.
Meier's two-run homer was his sixth home run of the season. It traveled 410 feet with an exit velocity of 105 MPH.
Cooper Ellingworth's four innings were his longest relief appearance of the season.

Quotable
Head Coach Skylar Meade
"Some of the lapses early come back to bite you because you're in fight mode. There's no conversation to be had about what level of fight we're going to give. We're going to fight every single pitch."

Next Up
The series-deciding finale between Troy and Louisiana is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday at Riddle-Pace Field.