Amy Austin
Staff Writer
Troy lost the road series against conference foe Georgia State, 2-1.
The Trojans opened up play on Friday, March 28. They lost game one, 8-6, as the Panthers fought back each time Troy scored.
Headed to the top of the fourth, the Trojans were trailing 3-1, but were able to plate three runs to go ahead. Junior outfielder Jo-El Bennett had a single to start the inning. Senior first baseman Matthew Howard would bunt and beat out the throw in the inning.
Two other players who also contributed to the inning were junior third baseman Nick Masonia, who had a double, and senior shortstop Tyler Vaughn, who hit a deep fly ball to help score the go-ahead run.
GSU took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth after scoring two more runs and forcing senior pitcher Tanner Hicks out of the game. Hicks took the loss for the Trojans. He lasted only four and one-third innings, and he allowed four runs on seven hits, each run was earned.
On account of errors, Troy lost 6-3 on Saturday, March 29, to the Panthers, which gave Georgia State the series victory.
In the first inning, the Trojans had two errors that allowed two runs to score and gave the Panthers an early lead in the game.
The second inning didn’t prove to be much better as another run scored after senior pitcher Shane McCain hit a batter and then a throwing error allowed the run to score.
Troy didn’t answer Georgia State until the fifth inning. Howard, Masonia and Vaughn each singled to start off the inning. Junior outfielder Clay Holcomb reached base on a fielder’s choice and also plated a run. Senior second baseman Garrett Pitts then lined a ball to center scoring two and cutting the lead in half.
Troy couldn’t muster any more runs and would end the game with the loss. Masonia finished the game three for four for the Trojans.
After falling behind early, the Trojans came back to take a lone victory on Sunday, March 30, and ended their three-game losing streak. Troy won 13-9 over Georgia State to close out the series.
Approaching the fifth inning and losing 8-2, Troy bats lit up as the Trojans took the lead back with an eight run inning. Holcomb started the inning with a triple and then would be driven home on a single by Pitts.
Later in the inning, bases were loaded and Howard would reach on a RBI single. Vaughn had a sacrifice fly to score another. Senior outfielder Ali Knowles singled to score two more. Holcomb and Pitts would return to the plate and hit again to score three Trojan runs and give Troy a 10-8 lead.
Troy tacked on a run in the sixth inning and then two more runs in the eighth.
Pitts was four for five on the day with four RBIs. Holcomb and Bennett both continued their hitting streaks, Holcomb’s streak moved to six games and Bennett’s to eight.
Junior pitcher Jeremy McGowan came in for the Trojans in the fourth. He then pitched five and one-third innings to secure the win. McGowan allowed one run on four hits, struck out two and walked three.
Troy was in Birmingham on Tuesday, April 1, where the Trojans played UAB. Troy won the game, 7-2.
On April 4-6 Troy will host the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in a three game series.
