Pair of Homers Power Troy Past UNO 9-2

Saturday, March 12

Riddle-Pace Field

1:00 pm

Troy University

University of New Orleans

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

3/12/2011 3:56:52 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Ricky Hazel

FINAL BOX SCORE: PDF | HTML POST-GAME AUDIO | PHOTO GALLERY

The Troy Trojans opened Saturday's first game at Riddle-Pace Field with a home run from Daniel Peterson and added a two-run shot later from Adam Bryant to take a 9-2 victory over visiting New Orleans in the first game of a double-header.

Troy improved to 11-3 with the victory while UNO fell to 1-13.

Peterson's blast, the first of his four-year career at Troy, got the Trojans off to a good start.

“It did set the tone,” head coach Bobby Pierce said. “He did a nice job with a 2-0 fastball and hit it on the button.”

The early offense in the game for Troy included two runs in the first inning and five over the first three frames, gave senior starting pitcher Drew Hull (3-0) all the support he needed despite a less than stellar outing.

“You have to credit UNO because Drew has been dominating people,” Pierce said. “When he came out of the pen they said he was really throwing well, but UNO did a good job of getting the bat on the ball. The thing about Drew was that when he did get in trouble, you could see him bare down.”

Hull scattered six hits and allowed two runs in his five innings of work. He walked one and struck out five before giving way to sophomore Shane McCain, who pitched three innings with six strikeouts.

“Drew was having a little trouble with back spasms so we got him out rather than take any chances. Shane came in and struck out five or six in the three innings he pitched. The pitching was solid again.”

Bryant's homer came in the sixth inning off UNO reliever Garrett Manning and followed Tyler Hannah's second RBI double of the year. The homer was the first of the year for Bryant, who led the Sun Belt Conference in 2010 with 23.

Manning worked the final 6 1/3 innings on the mound for UNO in relief of starter Cory Myers (0-3).

UNO scored both of its runs in the third inning thanks to three singles and a sacrifice fly. The Privateers had runners on base in every inning except the eighth but left 10 stranded in the game.

“I thought we let down a little bit defensively and we really have to have our focus back there,” Pierce said. “Offensively, we are still trying to work through it, but we are starting to get a few more off the bat.

“We are still looking for combinations. We are trying to get guys some opportunities so that when we have to have them they will be ready to go. When we do start the hit the baseball, we are going to be a good club with the pitching and defense we have.”

Peterson and Hannah were the only Trojans with more than one hit in the game. Bryant drove home three in the outing. Nolan Church and Steffan Farrell had two hits apiece for UNO.