Troy Hands Pierce 300th Victory in Win Over UALR

Saturday, March 26

Riddle-Pace Field

6:00 pm

Troy University

University of Arkansas - Little Rock

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

Troy Hands Pierce 300th Victory in Win Over UALR

3/26/2011 9:46:38 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Ricky Hazel

FINAL BOX SCORE: PDF | HTML POST-GAME AUDIO

Records and milestones are not something that Troy baseball coach Bobby Pierce has ever been concerned with, but his Trojans handed him his 300th career victory at Troy on Saturday evening with a 7-2 win over UALR.

The win for the homstanding Trojans (18-4, 4-1) did not come easy, however. Trojans starting pitcher Drew Hull was never able to settle in on the mound, walking a career-high seven in just 4 2/3 innings, but sophomore Ryan Sorce (3-2) was able to finish the game and get the win in his first relief appearance.

“I didn't know about the milestone, but I rarely do,” Pierce said. “It was a gutty performance by Drew. You are always concerned about the rhythm of a guy that is out of routine, but he showed me something by gutting it out and putting a bunch of zeros on the board. I really wanted him to be able to get through the fifth inning, but we were never able to open the game up enough. We had to win the game first.”

The Trojans had plenty of opportunities to score runs in the game, but left runners on base in each of the first seven innings and stranded 11overall. Troy scored in each of the first two frames, building a quick 5-0 lead to chase UALR starter Travis Henke (1-1).

“I thought we swung the bats pretty good even though we didn't get as many runs out of the damage that we did,” Pierce said. We are starting to do a few good things with the bats.”

Senior Adam Bryant opened the game with a homer on the first pitch Henke threw. After two singles and a sacrifice followed, Logan Pierce plated a run with a ground out. Todd McRae led off the second with a single and scored on a double by Bryant. After a walk to T.J. Rivera, Tyler Hannah doubled in two runs for the 5-0 Troy lead.

From there the UALR bullpen kept Troy off the board for the most part. The Trojans plated a single run in the fourth when Rivera led off with a triple and scored on a ground out, and added another in the eighth on a solo homer by Blake Martz.

UALR (10-12, 2-3) did not get its first hit off Hull until the fifth inning. A single by Henry Acosta was followed by two walks to load the bases. Hull appeared on the verge of getting out of trouble before going to a full count on Nick Rountree, who then ripped a double into the leftfield corner, plating two runs and ending Hull's night.

Sorce came on and got out of the fifth and allowed just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts over his 4 1/3 innings off work.

“Sorce was terrific tonight,” Pierce said. “We did make that call right because we thought he could be dominating in that role, and he was tonight. He threw the ball as well tonight as he has thrown it this year. I hope he is comfortable with that. This just might get him going again and we may have to a starting role. I certainly liked the way he came in and shut them down tonight.”

Hannah led Troy with three hits while Bryant, Rivera and McRae had two each. Roundtree and Greg Garcia had two hits apiece for UALR.

The Trojans will go for the series sweep on Sunday with freshman left-hander Jimmy Hodgskin (1-1, 2.59) on the mound against UALR senior right-hander Calvin Drinnen (2-1, 3.12).

“Just like last year, we were in this same place and got a little complacent and they came in and took the Sunday game,” Pierce said. “Hopefully, we'll be ready to go tomorrow.”

The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.