by Caleb Thomas
Tied game. Bottom of the 10th inning. Huge series. These are the moments that define seasons.
Saturday, Shane Lewis found himself in this very situation – he came up clutch, hitting an opposite field walk-off homer to send Riddle-Pace Field into a frenzy. The pivotal home run was just the latest in his legendary season at Troy though.
After committing to Mississippi State out of high school, Lewis was redshirted, and ended up transferring to Chipola College in Marianna, Florida. There, he proved why he deserved playing time, ending the season with a .312 batting average accompanied by 15 homers and 68 RBIs.
At Chipola, Lewis took home the all-state and all-panhandle first team outfield awards before making the move back to Division I and Troy.
From his first game as a Trojan, Lewis has been a difference maker. His first at-bat this season ended in a three-run bomb to give Troy the lead in the season opener. Since then, Lewis has taken over offensively, striking fear into opposing pitchers.
The switch hitter has been on a tear in 2023, hitting 14 homers in just 29 games. His 14 homers are tied for third most in the nation. Lewis’ 44 RBIs are tied for fifth most in the country. Throughout the entire season, Lewis has been near the top in these categories, establishing himself as an elite talent.
Additionally, Lewis has a .444 on-base percentage this season and three stolen bases. Not only has he put up impressive stats, but Lewis seems to get the big hits when it matters.
Most of Lewis’ home runs come at the most opportune times, from the walk-off to many other game-tying or lead-taking jacks. When Lewis steps into the box with worship music playing as his walk-up song, be ready to witness a clutch moment.
With his hitting prowess, there’s a solid chance an MLB team will take a flier on Lewis this summer at the draft. Overall, he’s been a key player for a Troy offense that can strike swiftly and from any spot in the lineup.
Lewis and the Trojans play their next series at Arkansas State, starting Thursday and running through Saturday. First pitch for Thursday’s game is at 6 p.m.
