ENTERPRISE – Behind a brilliant pitching performance by Austin Ingram, Troy’s Dixie Boys shutout Enterprise 8-0 Sunday night.

Ingram pitched 6 2/3 innings before reaching the pitch limit.

“I felt good,” Ingram said. “I tried to change my arm slot and give them different looks.”

That philosophy paid off as Ingram struck out 10 Enterprise batters and allowed only two hits. Ingram changed speeds and kept opposing batters guessing the entire game. His fastball had zip, his curveball had bite, and his change-up had Enterprise twisted in knots. At one point between innings three and six, Ingram struck out nine of 11 batters he faced.

“I have faced these guys a couple of times so I had a gameplan,” said Ingram. “I was just trying to keep them off balance.”

Troy scored four runs in the first inning. Hunter Baggett led off with a doubled and scored on an Enterprise error which also placed Ingram on base. Xavius Burden singled before Reilly Fox singled home a run. Devin Hooks would also knock in a run on a single in the inning.

Troy had opprotunities to add on to their 4-0 lead in both the second and third innings. Ingram and Baylor Barnes reached base to lead off both respective innings but were stranded.

Enterprise’s onlt threat came in the fourth. Dustin Jordan worked and walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball with no one out. Ingram turned up the intensity and struck out the side.

In the fifth, Rush Hixon worked a walk, stole second then scored on another error by Enterprise. Burden would also score later in the inning.

Troy tacked on two in the seventh. Hooks and Hartley delivered consecutive singles before Barnes and Baggett drove them home on singles of their own.

“I thought we played well enough to win,” Troy head coach Gary Fox said following the game. “We could have had a better approach at the plate at time but a win is a win.”

Baggett finished 2-for-4 while Hartley was 2-for-3. Jason Fleming pitched the final out for Troy recording a strikeout.

Troy will play the winner between Selma and Pisgah today at 12:30 p.m.