Crook Strikes Out 14; Troy Downs #15 UL Lafayette

Saturday, March 25

Troy, Ala.

1 PM

Troy University

13-9, 3-2

UL Lafayette

12-9, 3-2

UL Lafayette

Troy

Crook Strikes Out 14; Troy Downs #15 UL Lafayette

3/25/2017 4:37:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Jace Sanders

Box Score | Photo Gallery | Highlights

TROY, Alabama – Austin Crook struck out a career-high 14 batters to lead Troy to a 7-5 victory over No. 15 UL Lafayette to even the series Saturday in Sun Belt Conference action at Riddle-Pace Field. The teams will play the rubber game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m.

After allowing two runs on two hits in the first inning, Crook (4-0) settled in and dealt the most impressive pitching performance of the season for the Trojans (13-9, 3-2) – scattering four runs – two earned – on four hits in a career-high 8.2 innings of work. Marc Skinner struck out the potential go-ahead run to end the game and earn his sixth save of the season.

The Trojans used two three-run innings to support Crook led by Brandon Lockridge's 3-for-5 day that included a double and two RBIs. Joey Denison also drove in a run and is now 3-for-5 in the series with three RBIs and a run scored.

Drew Frederic, Mack Hathcock and Steven Whitaker each brought home a runner and all but two Trojans picked up a base hit in the ball game.

UL Lafayette (12-9, 3-2) refused to go away quietly – scoring three in the ninth inning despite being down five runs. Joe Robbins led the Cajuns offensively batting 2-for-5 with three RBIs and a double.

Nick Lee (4-2) allowed four runs on four hits and four walks in 2.1 innings of work and suffered the loss for the Ragin' Cajuns.

QUOTABLE
"I don't know if (Crook) has pitched a better game in his life," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "I hate he couldn't finish, but he was sensational today. As a team, we took advantage of anything they gave us. I'm proud we got the series even, but we're going to have to come out and play our best baseball tomorrow to win.

"We brought our energy today and Crook established the focus that we needed," Brandon Lockridge said. "Any time a pitcher is that great on the mound, the pressure is on the batters to help him out and score some runs and we did that today."

"I felt good, settled down and the offense got us some runs and got us ahead," winning pitcher Austin Crook said. "We have a lot of momentum going into Sunday."

SOUND "SMARTT" WITH YOUR FRIENDS
• Brandon Lockridge extended his on-base streak to a career-high 22 games with a pair of hits; he has now hit safely in 20-of-22 games this season.

• Brandon Lockridge recorded his team-leading 12th multi-hit game of the season; the sophomore second baseman now has 27 career multi-hit games.

• Drew Frederic's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning extended his on-base streak to 14 games; he has also hit safely 13 of the last 14 games.

• Austin Crook struck out a career-high 14 batters over his 8.2 innings of work – his previous high was five against Hofstra on March 11, 2017. It was the most strikeouts by a Troy pitcher since Grant Bennett also struck out 14 Georgia Southern batters on March 14, 2015. Crook entered the game with 12 strikeouts over 20.2 innings.

• Austin Crook improved to 4-0 on the season with the victory and more impressively 8-0 in his career overall and 4-0 against Sun Belt foes.

• Troy improved to 11-5 this season when its starting pitcher went at least five innings; Austin Crook tossed 8.2 innings for the Trojans on Saturday. The Trojans also improved to 6-0 on the year when scoring 6-9 runs.

• Marc Skinner earned his sixth save of the season making his 94^th career appearance for the Trojans. The save was also his 14^th career save which leaves him four shy of the all-time Troy record of 18 held by Josh Storm.

WHAT'S UP NEXT?
The Trojans will send another senior lefty to the mound as they aim to take the series on "Championship Sunday". Evan Hebert (1-0, 3.28) will toe the rubber against the Cajuns with first pitch set for 1 p.m.