Troy Cruises Past Samford

Tuesday, March 21

Troy, Ala.

6 PM

Troy University

12-7

Samford

12-8

Samford

Troy

Photo by: Joey Meredith

3/21/2017 9:09:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery Highlights

By: Jace Sanders

Box Score | Photo Gallery | Highlights

TROY, Alabama – A stellar night on the mound from Evan Hebert led Troy's 9-2 win over in-state foe Samford Tuesday night at Riddle-Pace Field.

Hebert (1-0) earned his first win of the season behind a one-hit, one-run performance in six innings of work – with the only blemish coming on a home run in the fourth.

The Trojans (12-7) scored in four of the first five innings of the game – helped by two two-run homers from Trevor Davis and Justin Friend.

Brandon Lockridge paced the Trojans going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks, while Chase Smartt hit safely to extend his modest seven-game hitting streak.

Samford's (12-8) offense primarily came from Austin Edens, who had three of the Bulldogs' five hits and drove in their only two runs. Connor Radcliff (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on three hits and five walks in two innings of work; the Bulldogs used six pitchers in the game and they combined to issue 13 walks.

QUOTABLE
"It felt amazing to get my first win of the season," starter Evan Hebert said. "I took full advantage of the run support and we made some great plays in the field. Overall it was just a great team win."

"Early in the year the pitching has held us in games," senior first baseman Justin Friend said. "But now the offense is starting to gel a little better."

SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Brandon Lockridge extended his on-base streak to 19 consecutive games; he is one shy of his career-high of 20 set last season.

• Chase Smartt hit safely in his seventh straight game, which is a new career-high for the Trojan sophomore; he has hit safely in 13 of the last 14 games.

• TJ Binder has now driven in eight runs over the past four games; he had one RBI in the first nine games of the season.

• Trevor Davis hit his second home run of the season; both have come in mid-week games against in-state foes. His first homer of the year came at UAB on Feb. 28.

• Trevor Davis, Justin Friend and Mack Hathcock record multiple RBIs in the game; it was Friends' fifth multi-RBI game of the season, Davis' third and Hathcock's second.

• Troy hit multiple home runs for the second time this season as both Trevor Davis and Justin Friend left the yard. The previous multi-homer game was the series finale against Xavier when Chase Smartt and Brody Binder took the ball deep.

• Troy improved to 9-2 on the season when hitting a home run – the Trojans hit two – and 10-3 when scoring first.

• Troy drew a season-high 13 walks in the game; the Trojans had drawn eight walks in a game four times this season.

WHAT'S UP NEXT?
The Trojans and Bulldogs will battle again Wednesday night in a game that was originally scheduled for February 21 but was postponed due to inclement weather. Troy will send Houston Mabray (1-1, 4.20) to the mound for the 6 p.m. first pitch in Birmingham.