Troy bounced from state tournament with blowout loss to Auburn

Troy head coach David Nelson had to shrug his shoulders after watching Auburn Orange eliminate his team from the Alabama Dixie AAA State Tournament with a 17-2 win Wednesday night.

Auburn swung hot bats early and often, and took advantage of each and every Troy error to ease to the semifinals of the tourney. Auburn scored six runs in the first, one in the second and then blew the game wide open with a 10 spot in the top of the fifth.

“Baseball is just a cruel game like that sometimes,” Nelson said. “We hit the ball hard, but just never got that two-out hit when we needed it. You have to give credit to them as well; they made the plays when the ball came their way. We didn’t make the plays, and they did.”

Auburn took advantage of three Troy errors in the top of the first to jump on the board with six runs.

In the bottom of the inning, Troy loaded the bases with one out, but picked up just one run.

The first inning set the tone for the day.

“We just didn’t get the runs across,” Nelson said. “It is just as simple as that. “We had chances to get back in it almost every inning, but never could get that one big hit to get momentum on our side.”

Despite the loss, Nelson said bright days are ahead for this group of players.

“This group of guys won the World Series at 8-years old,” Nelson said. “If they keep getting better, and keep practicing and working harder they will keep on winning. It is great group of guys.”