Troy Opens Final Regular Season Road Trip at UAB

Tuesday, May 12

Birmingham, Ala.

2 p.m.

Troy University

UAB

Troy Opens Final Regular Season Road Trip at UAB

5/11/2026 4:53:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. - Troy baseball is set for its final midweek game of the season on Tuesday, opening its last regular-season road trip at UAB.

The Trojans are coming off a 3-1 week, which saw them top No. 17 Alabama 6-1 in front of a record 3,982 fans at Riddle-Pace Field on Tuesday before taking two-of-three from rival South Alabama over the weekend. Troy lost in run-rule fashion 12-1 in the Friday opener after a three-hour weather delay before responding with a 10-5 win on Saturday and an 8-1 win on Sunday.

Over the weekend, Troy had six players combine for seven home runs, its most in a series this season. Additionally, the Trojans struck out just 15 times in a three-game set, their fewest in a series. Troy enters the final week of Sun Belt Conference play at ULM tied with South Alabama at 15-12, and now holds the tiebreaker over the Jaguars.

Aaron Piasecki launched homers in both wins over the Jaguars, Jimmy Janicki, Blake Cavill and Josh Pyne each fell one leg shy of the cycle with a homer each on Saturday, while Jabe Boroff homered on Sunday. Cavill and Janicki each provided crucial RBI doubles in the fifth inning of the rubber match as well.

On the mound Tuesday, the Trojans will trot out senior left-hander Drew Nelson, a semifinalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year. The Troy native earned wins in relief against Texas State, Louisiana, and App State earlier this season, and tossed three perfect innings against Florida A&M in his lone start.

UAB will send redshirt sophomore lefty Konner Keplinger out to the mound. The southpaw has made 21 appearances and one start this season, carrying a 6.35 ERA with 21 strikeouts to 12 walks.

UAB sits tied for third in the American conference at 13-11, though the Blazers have dropped six of their last seven games, including a 2-1 series loss to Charlotte over the weekend. The
Blazers' offense is led by John Paul Head with 17 homers and a 1.096 OPS, while Landon Beaver is hitting .309 with a team-high 14 doubles.

Game Information
The Matchup: Troy (26-26, 15-12 Sun Belt) at UAB (29-22, 13-11 American)
Gametime: Tuesday, May 12 - 2 p.m.
Location: Birmingham, Ala. - Young Memorial Field
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyTrojans.com/LiveStats

On the Mound
Troy: Sr. LHP/UTL Drew Nelson (3-1, 2.40 ERA, 18:7 K:BB)
UAB: R-So. LHP Konner Keplinger (2-0, 6.35 ERA, 21:12 K:BB)

On the Rise
Troy climbed 13 spots in the RPI from No. 67 to No. 54 after beating Alabama in the midweek and taking 2-of-3 from South Alabama over the weekend. It was the third-largest RPI jump in college baseball last week, trailing only Cal (73 to 56) and Louisiana Tech (76 to 62). On the season, Troy owns the No. 8 strength of schedule and the No.3 non-conference strength of schedule.

Heating Up
Despite a slow start to the season, Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Blake Cavill has been one of Troy's most productive hitters since the start of April. In that stretch, the Troy first baseman is hitting .287 and ranks second on the team in OBP (.462) and SLG (.588). Six of Cavill's eight doubles and six of his eight homers have come since the start of April.

One of a Kind
Troy catcher Jimmy Janicki enters midweek action as the Sun Belt leader in home runs (16) and RBIs (68) while ranking second in doubles (21). Janicki is the only player in college baseball with 20+ doubles, 15+ home runs, and 65+ RBIs this season. If the RBI threshold is lowered to 60, the only other player to join him is Mississippi State third baseman Ace Reese.

Series History
Troy leads the all-time series with UAB 33-31. The Trojans have won four straight over the Blazers and are 4-1 against UAB under head coach Skylar Meade.