The No. 15-ranked Troy Trojans (30-12) hung on to beat the Alabama State Hornets (21-21) on the road on April 22 by a score of 12-10. 

Troy scored nine runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take control of the game with an 11-1 lead. While Alabama State rallied to score nine runs in the next two innings, Troy took a 12-10 lead into the final two innings where relief pitcher Colby Frieada struck out three batters and gave up no runs during that stretch. 

“I was really proud of the way we were able to understand some of the errors of our ways, and just be the best version of ourselves the last four innings,” Troy Coach Skylar Meade said. “I thought we did some great things offensively – obviously we scored a large majority in the first five. We just exuded a lot of toughness. We made the correct plays defensively those last four innings. Dylan King’s sixth inning was really good. Frieda – we needed somebody to elevate their game and he did that.”

Troy was led at the plate by Blake Cavill, who went 3-for-6 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs. Brooks Bryan went 2-for-4 with a home run, one RBI and two runs, while Gavin Schrader went 2-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs and one run. Mike Bello collected two hits, drove in one run and scored two runs, while Houston Markham also tallied two hits, drove in a run and scored two runs of his own. 

Defensively, Troy had three errors as a team. Grayson Stewart (4-2) got the win on the mound, striking out two batters and giving up two hits and one earned run in three innings of work. Frieda earned his first save of the season, striking out three batters and giving up two hits and one earned run in three innings. Cavill tallied seven putouts and one assist with no errors. 

For Alabama State, Wilbert Espinal went 3-for-4 with a home run, one RBI and four runs. Demarckus Smiley also drove in five runs. On the mound, Kameron Douglas (0-1) took the loss, striking out two and giving up one hit and two earned runs in one inning pitched. Will Bartkoski pitched four and 1/3 innings, striking out four batters and giving up two hits and one earned run. Juan Cruz earned nine putouts and two double plays with no errors. 

Troy goes into this weekend’s Sun Belt Conference series as the only team with 30 wins or more but sits at second place with a SBC record of 12-6 behind first place Coastal Carolina’s 14-4 record. Troy, though, remains the only team in the conference to win every SBC series they’ve played this season. 

The Trojans host Texas State this weekend for a conference series at home with Texas State April 26-29.