Eufaula scored five runs in the top of the first inning and would keep Troy’s offense silent for most of the afternoon on Friday in a 9-3 victory over the host team.

Five walks by Troy pitchers would lead to four Eufaula runs and a fielding error would score another in the opening frame.

“We never could get a rhythm going,” head coach Lin Roberts said. “We’re going to have to go back and see if we’ve got it, see if we want to play.”

While Eufaula pitchers did not completely shut down Troy’s offense they did make key plays when needed.

Troy’s Ty Witherington and Eric Lee led off the home half of the second inning with consecutive singles but would be stranded after Eufaula induced three straight groundouts.

Lee would take the mound in relief for Troy and allow just two runs over 6 1/3 innings striking out two.

Though Troy struggled in its tournament opener ¬– they received a first round by ¬– Roberts feels the team has the ability to bounce back and make a run.

“We have a couple of guys we can throw (Saturday),” he said. “I feel like we are in fair shape with our pitching staff.”

Troy did not get on the scoreboard until the sixth when Drew Starling led off the inning with a walk and Witherington was hit by a pitch. Lee’s RBI single made the score 6-1. Witherington would later score on a fielder’s choice from Coleby Roberts.

Starling doubled to kick off the seventh. Two batters later Roberts doubled to plate Troy’s third and final run.

The host squad would leave the bases loaded in the inning and would strand nine runners in the game.

“We left a lot of guys out there,” Roberts said. “We’ve got to come up with key hits when we need them.”

C.J. Thomas and Keigan Simmons also had hits for Troy.

Troy falls to the losers bracket and will play the loser of the Taylor/Rehobeth-Dothan game at 10 a.m. today.