By Mike Hensley

The Bobby Pierce era at Troy University came to an end Thursday afternoon, after the Trojans were defeated by the University of Louisiana-Lafayette 12-8; knocking them out of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

The Trojans finished the regular season with a 10-game home conference-winning streak and just a game out of first place in the Conference. But, the Trojans finished their complete 2015 season in disappointment.

“I think we were a little short in the tank. We emptied the tank a bit trying to get into position to win the regular season title,” said Troy head coach Bobby Pierce. “I credit Arlington and Lafayette for swinging the bats well. They really stretched the game out and they didn’t give us an opportunity to win those games.”

The pitching staff for the Trojans, a staff that was red-hot coming into conference play, struggled in the two games they saw in the tournament.

“Grant Bennett and Lucas Brown carried us through the opportunity for a title run, they didn’t throw particularly well this week,” Pierce said.

The Trojans got behind early against the Cajuns surrendering a first inning run off a double-steal that saw Cajun base runner Kyle Clement run to second springing Brenn Conrad for the games first run.

The Trojans offense answered quickly in their half of the first inning by plating five runs giving them a brief lead.

With both Matt, and Cameron Sanders on base, Logan Hill connected on a pitch and blasted it over the right center field wall putting the Trojans up 3-1. Nick Masonia followed suit later in the inning and pelted a Wyatt Marks pitch over the left field fence scoring Trevin Hall, putting the Trojans up 5-1 heading into the second inning.

That homerun ended Mark’s day after pitching just a third of the inning.

The Cajun’s offense picked up their young pitcher in the second inning by scoring six runs and regaining the lead.

The Cajuns connected with two homeruns in the inning, one off the bat of Greg Davis scoring Evan Powell, and then once again, in what turned to be one of the biggest at bats of the game when Stefan Trosclair homered to left scoring Clement and Conrad giving the Cajuns a 7-5 lead.

After a scoreless third inning the pitching woes for the Trojans continued, the Cajuns scored three more runs in the fourth when Clement and Trosclair both doubled and drove in two runs. Girouard singled down the left field line scoring Trosclair.

Troy’s offense did not go with out chances Thursday afternoon, especially in the later innings. In the sixth inning the Trojans scored a run on a base hit by C. Sanders driving in Clay Holcomb, but the Trojans left the bases loaded nullifying any momentum the Trojans were building.

In all the Trojans left 12 runners on base Thursday afternoon.

Greg Milhorn picked up the win for the Cajuns, pitching 4 and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on just one hit.

Bennett took the loss for the Trojans, going three and one-third innings, allowing 10 runs on 8 hits.

The loss for the Trojans, bring to a close the 2015 season and a stellar career for coach Pierce.

“I really appreciate the resiliency and perseverance of this team to hang in there and get the ship turned back into the right direction,” Pierce said. “I couldn’t be more proud to coach this team, because of the quality of young men that I coached. I have coached a lot of good teams and great kids but this is one of the finest groups that I have coached.”