Trojans get revenge on Jacksonville State Tuesday
Published 12:23 am Wednesday, March 25, 2009
JACKSONVILLE — The Troy Trojans got just what the doctor ordered Tuesday night with the combination of Andrew Dickinson, Drew Hull and Josh Storm combining to shut down Jacksonville State in a 5-1 victory.
JSU managed just three hits in the game and only threatened to score a couple of times in the game.
With the win, the Trojans improved to 13-9 on the year while JSU falls to the same record with the loss.
Dickinson (1-0) worked the first four innings for Troy to get the win, allowing just the one run on two hits in his first start since arm problems ended his season early last year. Hull came on to work the next four innings, allowing just one hit, before Storm made his return with a perfect ninth.
“They whipped us good at our place last week and we certainly had not forgotten that,” Troy coach Bobby Pierce said. “This is a big rivalry and we treat it as such. We thought of this as a must win and it all started on the mound.”
The Trojans got off to a quick start in the first inning when junior Miles Hoyle, hitting in the leadoff position for the first time this year, hit the third pitch of the game from JSU starter Daniel Watts (2-1) over the wall in right.
“I thought Miles Hoyle was good in the leadoff spot,” Pierce said. “He did a nice job getting on the base. The top of the order was very productive.”
The Trojans pushed their lead to 2-0 in the second inning when Brett Henry led off with a walk, worked his way to third base and scored on a ground ball off the bat of Steven Felix that was mishandled by JSU shortstop Jake Sharrock.
JSU scored its only run in the second when Kyle Bluestein walked, moved to third on a single by Daniel Adamson and scored on a ground out by Heath Wall.
After a strange ending to the home half of the fourth inning, when JSU was called for interference on the bases, only to have the call reversed, the Trojans pushed their lead to 5-1 with a three-run fifth.
Felix drew a leadoff walk off Jordan Beistline and moved up on a one-out single by Hoyle. J.R. Myers followed with a deep fly to left that Todd Cunningham was unable to make a play on, scoring one. Precise added an RBI single before Ryan Ditthardt plated a run on a ground ball.
The Trojans will be back in action Wednesday night at Riddle-Pace Field when they take on the Auburn Tigers. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.