The Troy Machine Pitch used a nine-run first inning to help defeat Valley 16o-5 on Friday.

Troy finished the game with 23 hits and had 11 different players get on base. Dawson Bradford, Slade Renfroe and Chase Vaznaian all had three hits to lead the way, while Luke Barron, Luke Sikes, Ford Hussey, Carter Nelson, Kellen Stewart and Payton Elliot each had two hits.

The big inning of the game came in the first for Troy. Entering their half of the inning already trailing 3-0, Troy sent 13 batters to the plate. Renfroe had the big hit of the inning when he hit a three-run home run to score both Barron and Bradford.

Troy added a two more runs in the second when Vaznaian tripled in both Renfroe and Sikes.

“What was awesome was that we only gave up three runs in the top of the inning when it could have been much worse. They had runners on base but we made key plays to get out of it,” said Troy head coach Bobby Hussey. “Our kids came in and they answered with their bats. They put nine runs that basically made a statement.”

Valley failed to score in both the second and third innings on Friday night, and Troy took advantage.

“Hats off to our defense,” Hussey said. “Our third baseman Chase Vaznaian played one great game. He played great plays at third base. He made plays over at third that really helped us out and that was key to keeping the runs off the board.”

Valley scored two runs in the fourth inning and but Troy’s scored four runs in their half of the inning to end the game via the run rule. Renfroe, Sikes and Vaznaian all had had RBI base hits in the inning.

With the win Troy advances to the winners bracket on Saturday where they will play the winner of Greenville and Morgan County Central at noon.

We need to compete against our personal best,” Hussey said. “If they do that I know they are giving over 100 percent.”