Troy University Athletics
Troy University
24-19, 10-11
Coastal Carolina
27-16-1, 13-7-1
Coastal Carolina Prevails Over Troy in Sunday Rubber Game
4/30/2017 4:56:00 PM | Baseball
CONWAY, South Carolina – Coastal Carolina did most of its scoring in the first three innings to take the third and deciding game of the Sun Belt Conference series from Troy, 11-8, on Sunday at Springs Brooks Stadium.
Troy (24-19, 10-11 SBC) took an early lead just four pitches into the game when Matt Sanders hit a line drive home run into the Coastal bullpen in left field. It was the second homer of the season for the junior and the seventh for the leadoff man's career.
The lead was short-lived, however, as the defending national champions took advantage of three walks in the bottom half of the opening frame. Wood Myers tied the game when he laced a single to left and Dalton Ewing put the Chanticleers ahead with a two-out, two-RBI single. CCU extended its advantage courtesy of a Kieton Rivers solo home run in the second.
After Coastal (27-16-1, 13-7-1) opened a 7-2 margin on a two-run Ewing homer in the third, the Trojans got some help scoring on a passed ball in the third and wild pitch in the fifth. Drew Frederic added another run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly, however the team missed an opportunity to do more damage after starting the inning with bases loaded and no outs. Troy again loaded the bases in the sixth, but this time it came with two outs and a strikeout ended the threat.
Trailing 11-4 in the ninth, Troy's offense awoke to score four runs on six hits off two CCU pitchers cutting the deficit to three, but a 6-4-3 double play sent the game final.
Troy starter Austin Crook (5-2) lasted just two innings allowing four runs on four hits and was saddled with the loss. Max Newton was first in relief and surrendered three runs in his lone inning of work. Evan Hebert took over in the fourth and was solid for four innings allowing just four hits.
The Trojans return home to face longtime rival Jacksonville State on Wednesday. First pitch at Riddle-Pace Field is set for 6 p.m.
QUOTABLE
"We had a lot of chances to score," Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. "We had 19 hits and I don't think anyone in the ballpark thought the game was over until we grounded into the double play to end it. I'm proud of the team and how they fought back, they've really turned a corner in that respect."
NOTEWORTHY
• With the loss, the all-time series between the schools is tied 3-3.
• Troy outhit Coastal Carolina 34-24 on the weekend including posting a season-high 19 on Sunday.
• Justin Friend entered the series ranked 32nd nationally with 32 walks on the season, he drew two on Sunday upping his total to 34.
• Sunday marked the first loss for the Trojans when collecting 12 or more hits in a game; the team was 6-0 on the season when tallying 12-plus hits entering the game.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Latcham, Will (2-0)
L: Crook, Austin (5-2)
S: Holmes, Bobby (3)
Batting:
2B: Rogers, Mason 1 ; Smartt, Chase 1
HR: Sanders, Matt 1
RBI: Sanders, Matt 2 ; Lockridge, Brandon 1 ; Frederic, Drew 2 ; Hathcock, Mack 1
SF: Lockridge, Brandon 1 ; Frederic, Drew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sanders, Matt 1 ; Lockridge, Brandon 1 ; Davis, Trevor 1 ; Friend, Justin 1 ; Rogers, Mason 1 ; Smartt, Chase 1 ; Frederic, Drew 1 ; Mercer, Hunter 1
SB: Lockridge, Brandon 1 ; Frederic, Drew 1
HBP: Davis, Trevor 1
PO: Davis, Trevor 1
Batting:
2B: Gore, Jordan 1 ; Woodall Jr., Kevin 2
HR: Ewing, Dalton 1 ; Skeels, Kyle 1
RBI: Woodall Jr., Kevin 2 ; Myers, Wood 2 ; Isaacson, Peyton 1 ; Ewing, Dalton 4 ; Skeels, Kyle 1
SH: Gore, Jordan 1
SF: Isaacson, Peyton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cooke, Billy 1 ; Gore, Jordan 1 ; Woodall Jr., Kevin 1 ; Myers, Wood 2 ; Rivers, Kieton 2 ; Isaacson, Peyton 1 ; Ewing, Dalton 1 ; Skeels, Kyle 2
SB: Myers, Wood 1
