Troy University Athletics
Tuesday, May 5
Troy, Ala.
6 p.m.
Troy University
24-25
6
vs
1
Alabama
32-17
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Troy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | X | 6 | 7 | 0 |
Troy Tops No. 17 Alabama in Front of Record Riddle-Pace Field Crowd
5/5/2026 11:18:00 PM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - A record 3,982 fans packed the stands at Riddle-Pace Field Tuesday night as Troy knocked off No. 17 Alabama 6-1.
The Trojans (24-25) used five different arms to hold the Crimson Tide (32-17) to just four hits while striking out 11 and issuing only one walk. Offensively, Troy managed only one hit through six innings as Alabama starter JT Blackwood opened with four scoreless frames, but the Trojans broke through late, scoring three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings against the Tide bullpen.
The Trojans got two runners aboard in the seventh on a Steven Meier single and a walk by Drew Nelson before Nolan Book moved them over on a hard-hit grounder to the right side. With two outs and Sean Darnell at the plate, Nelson scored on a wild pitch, though Alabama challenged the call for a potential hit-by-pitch. The call stood as a wild pitch, and Darnell was plunked by the next pitch to bring the top of the order back up.
Riddle-Pace Field erupted as Aaron Piasecki doubled off the right field wall to drive in two runs and give Troy its first lead of the ballgame. The momentum continued in the eighth when Jimmy Janicki doubled before RBI singles from Meier and Book. The Trojans added another when Book scored from second on a throwing error by Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron on a ground ball by Houston Markham.
On the mound, Cooper Ellingworth struck out three in two innings, allowing Alabama's only run on a solo homer by Jason Torres in the second inning. Zach Crotchfelt fanned two in a pair of scoreless innings before Dylan Alonso struck out four in 2.1 innings.
Matt Dill earned the win, keeping the Tide off the board after relieving Alonso with one out in the seventh. Noah Thigpen pitched the final 1.2 innings and retired all five batters he faced, which included inning-ending strikeouts to Lebron in the eighth and John Lemm in the ninth to end the ballgame.
Notables
Head Coach Skylar Meade…
"It was just a great college baseball game. We got those runs there in the eighth that split it out. But let's be honest. It's the eighth inning. Our guy [Thigpen] is throwing 95, 96. They've got [Justin] Lebron up, who is the dude of dudes. We get a big K that juiced the place."
Centerfielder Steven Meier…
"We're a really good offensive team. We knew we were going to piece it together and apply a lot of pressure on them, and that's what we ended up doing."
RHP Noah Thigpen…
"You always want to be the guy that helps win a big game. It doesn't matter what role you're in, you've got to be ready to go at all times."
Next Up
Troy hosts South Alabama for its final home series of the season, Friday through Sunday.
The Trojans (24-25) used five different arms to hold the Crimson Tide (32-17) to just four hits while striking out 11 and issuing only one walk. Offensively, Troy managed only one hit through six innings as Alabama starter JT Blackwood opened with four scoreless frames, but the Trojans broke through late, scoring three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings against the Tide bullpen.
The Trojans got two runners aboard in the seventh on a Steven Meier single and a walk by Drew Nelson before Nolan Book moved them over on a hard-hit grounder to the right side. With two outs and Sean Darnell at the plate, Nelson scored on a wild pitch, though Alabama challenged the call for a potential hit-by-pitch. The call stood as a wild pitch, and Darnell was plunked by the next pitch to bring the top of the order back up.
Riddle-Pace Field erupted as Aaron Piasecki doubled off the right field wall to drive in two runs and give Troy its first lead of the ballgame. The momentum continued in the eighth when Jimmy Janicki doubled before RBI singles from Meier and Book. The Trojans added another when Book scored from second on a throwing error by Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron on a ground ball by Houston Markham.
On the mound, Cooper Ellingworth struck out three in two innings, allowing Alabama's only run on a solo homer by Jason Torres in the second inning. Zach Crotchfelt fanned two in a pair of scoreless innings before Dylan Alonso struck out four in 2.1 innings.
Matt Dill earned the win, keeping the Tide off the board after relieving Alonso with one out in the seventh. Noah Thigpen pitched the final 1.2 innings and retired all five batters he faced, which included inning-ending strikeouts to Lebron in the eighth and John Lemm in the ninth to end the ballgame.
Notables
- Tuesday's win was Troy's first over Alabama since April 24, 2019, in Tuscaloosa.
- Troy's win over the No. 17 Crimson Tide was its third ranked win of the season. The Trojans also own ranked wins over No. 8 Georgia (Feb. 25) and No. 12 Southern Miss (Mar. 20).
- Troy picked up wins over two SEC opponents for the first time since 2017, when the Trojans defeated both Alabama and Auburn. Freshman Matt Dill was the winning pitcher in both of Troy's SEC wins this season.
- Troy's pitching staff held Alabama to one run. It's the fewest runs they've allowed to an SEC opponent since shutting out Alabama on March 20, 2012.
- Cooper Ellingworth made his first start on the mound this season. He had been Troy's most-used reliever with 21 bullpen appearances.
- Dylan Alonso struck out the side in the fifth inning. It was his third time this season striking out the side.
- Noah Thigpen earned his first save of the season. He also made one save as a freshman last season.
- Aaron Piasecki extended his hitting streak to seven games. He's hitting .370 with three doubles during that stretch.
- Jimmy Janicki extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games. He's hitting .431 with nine doubles, seven homers and 26 RBIs during that stretch.
- Piasecki and Janicki each doubled, giving Troy 100-plus doubles for the third consecutive season.
- Steven Meier collected three hits. It was his third three-plus hit game of the season.
- Drew Nelson recorded the second three-walk game of his career at the plate.
Head Coach Skylar Meade…
"It was just a great college baseball game. We got those runs there in the eighth that split it out. But let's be honest. It's the eighth inning. Our guy [Thigpen] is throwing 95, 96. They've got [Justin] Lebron up, who is the dude of dudes. We get a big K that juiced the place."
Centerfielder Steven Meier…
"We're a really good offensive team. We knew we were going to piece it together and apply a lot of pressure on them, and that's what we ended up doing."
RHP Noah Thigpen…
"You always want to be the guy that helps win a big game. It doesn't matter what role you're in, you've got to be ready to go at all times."
Next Up
Troy hosts South Alabama for its final home series of the season, Friday through Sunday.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dill, Matt (3-2)
L: Lehman, Connor (1-1)
S: Thigpen, Noah (1)
Batting:
2B: Lebron, Justin 1
HR: Torres, Jason 1
RBI: Torres, Jason 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Torres, Jason 1
Batting:
2B: Janicki, Jimmy 1 ; Piasecki, Aaron 1
RBI: Meier, Steven 1 ; Book, Nolan 1 ; Piasecki, Aaron 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Janicki, Jimmy 1 ; Darnell, Sean 1 ; Nelson, Drew 2 ; Meier, Steven 1 ; Book, Nolan 1
SB: Markham, Houston 1 ; Book, Nolan 1
CS: Meier, Steven 2
HBP: Darnell, Sean 1
Players Mentioned
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/ BaseballTroy vs. No. 17 (Full Highlights)
Wednesday, May 06
Troy vs. No. 17 Alabama (Full Highlights)
Wednesday, May 06
Skylar Meade, Steven Meier & Noah Thigpen Postgame - Alabama
Tuesday, May 05
Skylar Meade, Drew Nelson & Jimmy Janicki Postgame - App State Game 3
Sunday, May 03