JSU clips Trojans at Riddle-Pace
Published 11:21 pm Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The offensive struggles for the Troy University Trojans continued on Wednesday afternoon as Jacksonville State came in and jumped out to a big early lead en route to a 9-3 victory.
The loss, Troy’s second straight, drops the Trojans to 11-7 on the year. Jacksonville State improved to the same mark with its fourth straight win.
The Gamecocks got off the bus swinging the bats. In particular, it was junior Heath Wall who powered the JSU attack.
Wall launched a pair of two-run homers off Troy starter Jeff Green (2-1) in the second and third innings. Wall followed up with a ground-rule double in the fifth off Robby Loew to plate another run.
In all, Wall drove in six runs on three hits in the game.
That was more than enough support for a JSU pitching staff.
Starter Daniel Watts (2-0 needed just 36 pitched to go through his prescribed three innings. Two other Gamecocks, Malcolm Thomas and Chase Smith allowed Troy just one unearned run on one hit through the next three innings.
Troy finally got a big hit in the seventh inning off Smith when Chad Watson snuck a line shot over the foul pole in right for a two-run homer, but that was it for the Troy offense.
The Trojans host Western Kentucky for a weekend series beginning Friday at 6 p.m.