Errors doom Troy in blowout loss to Sun Belt leader Louisiana-Lafayette
Published 10:17 pm Friday, April 4, 2014
While the run column on the scoreboard is the ultimate indication of who won or lost a baseball game, the error slot can tell the story on most days.
ULL committed two errors, while the bright red number next to Troy’s name gleamed a big bold “5.” The errors told the story of the 15-4 ULL win Friday night.
The errors came early for Troy, as what seemed a routine fly ball out in the top of the first turned in to a run for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
Left fielder Ali Knowles misplayed the ball and allowed ULL’s Seth Harrison to scoot all the way around for the game’s first run.
In the second inning, the Cajuns took advantage of two more Troy errors, and strung together three straight two-out hits to plate six runs and pull away for good.
“We got started off the wrong way with the first mistake in the outfield,” said Troy head coach Bobby Pierce. “When you playing a team that is as good as Lafayette, you can’t afford to give them anything. Tonight we gave them everything.”
ULL pushed two runs across in the sixth and two more in the seventh, the latter coming on a massive two-run homer to right center from Caleb Adams.
Troy picked up its first runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth on back-to-back hits from Jo-El Bennett and Ali Knowles.
Clay Holcomb picked up an RBI in the seventh with sac fly, and David Hall brought home Troy’s final run with a double.
Despite the late scratch of ULL pitcher Austin Robichaux, Troy was left baffled at the plate most of the night.
Ragin’ Cajun pitchers Carson Baranik and Ben Carter combined to strike out 11 Trojan batters.
Pierce said all the team can do is get some sleep and come to the ballpark ready to play on Saturday.
“You just got to flush days like today,” Pierce said. “Saturday is a huge day for us. When you lose Friday, Saturday games become that much more important and tomorrow is no exception.”