series at home today

From Special Reports

Troy State (21-29) hosts Texas-Pan American (28-19-1) in a three-game series starting tomorrow, May 4, at 6:30 p.m. (CDT). The two teams will also tangle on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

UT-Pan American has won four of its last five games. It claimed two of three games against Texas A&M and a three-game series sweep of Texas Tech earlier this season.

"They have a very talented ballclub," said TSU Head Coach John Mayotte. "We need to continue to improve. It’s frustrating, because we are three or four plays from being in top three or so in the league standings."

Junior third baseman Casey Smith (Cottonwood, Ala.) continues his torrid hitting pace. He is hitting .410 for the season with eight homers, tied with Jonathan Smithers (Tampa, Fla.) for the team lead, and team-high 45 RBI. Over his last six games, he is hitting .522 (.909 slugging pct.) with two homers, two doubles and 11 RBI, while scoring five of his own.

Senior Todd Lancaster (Florala, Ala.) is hitting .600 (12-20) over his last five games with three doubles, five runs scored and three runs batted in. He is also errorless at second base in 23 chances during that span. He is now hitting .317 with a .950 fielding percentage.

Another hot hitter of late is senior designated hitter Jay Brown (Pensacola, Fla.). In his last nine games, Brown is hitting .458 (11-24) with five doubles, eight RBI and five runs scored. He also has 11 walks, as his on-base percentage over that span is .629.

Senior right-hander Josh Jerkins (Dothan, Ala.) has been a workhorse out of the pen for the Trojans. He is 3-2 with a 4.34 earned run average and one save in 19 appearances, seven starts. He got the win in the UCF series pitching six innings of relief giving up seven hits, three runs, all earned and five walks, while striking out seven.

Thursday’s game is the first of a six-game homestand to conclude the 2000 season. The Trojans close out the 2000 regular season with Florida Atlantic May 12-13.