TROY TAKES SEASON-OPENER OVER UE, 12-7

TROY, Ala. – The home-standing Troy University Trojans used a little two-out magic and the strength of four home runs to outlast the visiting University of Evansville baseball team, 12-7, at Riddle-Pace Field in Troy, Alabama in the season-opener for both squads.

 

“It was a tough start to the weekend, but you have to credit the Troy hitters,” said UE head coach Wes Carroll.  “They scored a lot of runs with two outs, as we could not get out of innings.

 

“I thought that our offense showed some good signs, especially getting their starting pitcher’s pitch count up early to get him out of the contest.  I am definitely looking forward to tomorrow, as we look to get back into the series.”

 

Troy was able to plate nine of its 12 runs with two outs in an inning, on the strength of going 6-for-12 with runners in scoring position with six two-out RBI.  The Trojans also got home runs from outfielders Kole Myers and Shane Lewis, as well as third-baseman Caleb Bartolero and catcher Clay Stearns to overcome a two home run debut by UE junior second baseman Kip Fougerousse (Linton, Ind./Indiana University).

 

Fougerousse took the first pitch he saw as a Purple Ace, and the first pitch of the season, deep to right field for his first home run of the day to give UE a 1-0 lead.  He then capped the night’s scoring in the eighth inning with a solo shot to center field, as he finished his first game as a Purple Ace going 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs.

 

After UE took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Trojans grabbed the lead for good in the second inning with a two-out, three-run home run by Lewis to left field off of UE Nick Smith (0-1).  Bartolero would deliver a two-out RBI single in the third inning to push the lead to 4-1, before UE would bounce back with an RBI single by junior catcher Brendan Hord (Lexington, Ky./Univ. of Kentucky) in the top of the fourth inning.

 

Stearns would answer in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left-center field, before the Trojans would break the game open in the fifth inning with four two-out runs.  An error in center field opened the flood gates in the inning to allow three of the four runs to score unearned.

 

Troy would grow the lead to 12-4 through seven innings, before Hord would launch a two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to cut the deficit to 12-6.  Fougerousse would follow two batters later with his second home run of the night, but UE would get no closer.

 

Hord led UE offensively by going 3-for-4 with a home run and three runs driven in.  First baseman William Sullivan and shortstop Tremayne Cobb Jr. both had three-hit days to pace the Trojans.

 

The two teams will continue the series on Saturday at 1 p.m. as UE senior left-hander Tyler Denu (Mount Horeb, Wis./Mount Horeb) will square off with Troy RHP Zach Fruit.