Baseball continues series win streak, improves to No. 15

Taylor Fraze photo Steven Meier celebrates with Troy's first base coach against ULM.

The Troy baseball team returned home for the first time in two weeks to play host to ULM in a three-game series. The No. 20 Trojans defeated the Warhawks in the first two matchups to take the series 2-1.

“It was great to be back at Riddle Pace, and the guys had renewed energy,” said head coach Skylar Meade. “In the end, baseball isn’t rocket science.

“When you compete and execute correctly you come out on top.”

After the series win, the Trojans remain ranked in all major polls, including No. 20 in D1 Baseball’s top 25. The team also earned their highest ranking in club history, being recognized as the No. 15 team nationally by Baseball America.

The Trojans entered Thursday’s contest on a two-game winning streak, looking to extend the streak and win the first game of the series against the Warhawks. Troy’s offense woke up after being dormant for the last two weeks, exploding to a 9-3 series opening victory.

The Trojans were unable to find any runs in the first inning, but in the second inning, Jimmy Janicki would rocket a single into right field to get the leadoff batter on first. Brooks Bryan stepped up to bat and launched the baseball into the right field wall, nearly sending it over to advance Janicki to third. This hit would be a part of Bryan’s three hit day, much improved compared to his last few matchups.

“Coach Meade preaches toughness, and you need that toughness to compete on the road,” Bryan said. “It is always great to come back home to get that offense rolling back together.”

Steven Meier would then bring Janicki home on an RBI single to gain the 1-0 lead heading into the third. Starter Garrett Gainous would keep ULM at bay through five innings, only allowing one run before being pulled.

Troy increased its lead in the third to 4-0 on a Bryan two-RBI double scoring Sean Darnell and Blake Cavill. The Warhawks would strike back with two runs of their own in the fourth and sixth to get within two, but reliever Colby Frieda stepped up to the mound and ended any hopes of a comeback. The bats followed up Frieda’s shutdown performance by delivering three more runs in the sixth inning, bringing the lead to 9-2.

ULM gained another run back in the eighth inning, and Meade sent in Brock Tapper to close things out. Tapper was stellar last weekend against JMU, and did not disappoint in the closing effort here either. Tapper struck out three of the four batters he faced in the ninth, ending the game 9-3.

Troy rode this momentum into Friday’s series clinching victory in run-rule fashion. The Trojans dismantled the Warhawks 11-1 through seven innings behind Noah Edders’s first career complete game. The junior threw all seven frames, only allowing one run on four hits while striking out nine in the effort.

“Pitching with the lead with an offense like I have makes it easier on me,” Edders said. “It made me calm down and understand my offense has this offense in the bag before I even go out there for inning two.”

The offense showed up once again, scoring seven runs in the first inning. Darnell got things started with a two-RBI double, scoring Houston Markham and Cavill. Janicki followed it up with a single and then Bryan was walked, ending ULM starter Daniel Gonzalez’s day before it could even start.

Reliever Zach Shaw entered the game with bases loaded and no outs.

Meier drove Shaw’s third pitch into center field, scoring two more runs to increase the lead to 4-0. Gavin Schrader stepped up to bat with no outs and two teammates on base in front of him. Down to his last strike, Schrader swung at a low fast ball, sending it 361 feet over the right field wall.

“We have had a few shaky games in the last matchups,” Schrader said. “But we got back to our approaches, and it is working for our whole lineup top to bottom.”

Troy sent the first eight batters to the plate before the Warhawks finally recorded an out.

The Trojans would tack on four more runs before the seventh inning, putting the run rule into effect. Edders went back to the mound seeking a shutout, but unfortunately gave up a run in the seventh. The pitcher did however deliver a pitch for his ninth strikeout of the game, ending the matchup 11-1 and claiming the series.

“All aspects of the game today were really good,” Meade said. “We put our gameplan into action quick and when you do that it feels good.

“Both bullpens will be rested for tomorrow and we will have to bring our best to the finale.”

Troy was unable to get the sweep following a 7-3 loss in the series finale on Saturday. Both teams pitched well, but the Warhawks jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning following a few pitching errors from starter Jay Dill.

Troy’s offense went dormant on the day, not scoring until the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Darnell. Cavill did homer to center field in the seventh inning to plate two more, but it was  too late for Troy.

“We just weren’t good enough,” Meade said. “The score doesn’t reflect all the opportunities that we left on the field.

“We just weren’t getting it done and that is a recipe for what you get.”

Following the series win, the Trojans improved to 28-12 on the year with a conference record of 12-6, which is tied for second best in the Sun Belt.

The Trojans head on the road Tuesday night to play Alabama State before returning home Apr. 25 through Apr. 27 for a three-game series against Texas State. The series opening matchup is slated for 6 p.m. on Friday.