The Troy Trojans and head coach Mark Smartt went into Tuesday’s game against South Eastern Conference foe Alabama just like he would every other game. Three and half hours later they sent Riddle-Pace Field’s record-breaking attendance into frenzy.

Mat Sanders drove a walk-off single to right field to give the Trojans a dramatic 12-11 win over in-state rival Alabama in front of 3,328 fans.

“It doesn’t matter the opponent,” Troy head coach Mark Smartt said. “When you have a walk-off it’s really big for your team. Tremendous effort across the board; Bama battled their tails off, as well.”

The Trojans and Crimson Tide traded the lead eight times on Tuesday evening with both teams scoring a combined nine runs over the last three innings of play.

The Trojans trailed the Crimson 11-9 in the bottom of the eight before battling back to even the score after Brandon Lockridge doubled to center field to score Sanders and Drew Frederic setting up Sanders to be the hero in the ninth

Drew Frederic and Steven Whitaker both had one-out singles to put the winning run on second base for Sanders, who sat on his pitch and did not miss it.

“I sat on the curveball and hit it,” Sanders said “It feels really good to get the win. Pitching normally carries us but tonight we had their back.”

Sanders continued a string of success at the plate. He finished Tuesday night going 3-for-5 and is now 15-for-34 in the last eight games.

Marc Skinner earned the win for the Trojans after allowing one run over

2.2 innings of work.

The Trojans have now beaten Alabama four out of the last five times at Riddle-Pace Field.

The Trojans will return home on Friday night to begin a three-game conference series with Georgia Southern beginning at 6 p.m.