Sun Belt play opened Friday night but the Troy Trojans started it with a bang (literally). Skylar Meade’s club hit three home runs en route to a 7-1 defeat of the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns at Riddle Pace Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The scoring barrage by Troy began in the 2nd inning when Easton Kirk launched a two-run homer over the right field wall off of Tommy Ray. In the top of the 3rd, Warnner Rincones singled to right field, scoring Julian Brock and cutting the Trojan lead in half. However, that was the only run Louisiana would be able to get.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Jesse Hall flew out to center, but Donovan Whibbs tagged up from 3rd base to score a run to make it 3-1.
To the 4th inning, where Troy just continued to pour on the runs as Brandon Schrepf hit the second two-run home run of the game to left center to make it 5-1 in favor of the Trojans.
Two innings later in the 6th, Trey Leonard, a transfer from Louisville, launched his first home run of the year, the 3rd two-run bomb of the contest, making it 7-1 Troy and putting the game out of reach.
Garrett Gainous, the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2021, went 6 complete innings, giving up 1 run on 5 hits and striking out 6. With the win Gainous improves to 3-1 on the year.
Tommy Ray was credited with the loss, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits, striking out 3. Ray’s record falls to 1-2 on the year with tonight’s loss.
BIG NUMBER: 6
A total of six runs were scored by Troy in tonight’s Sun Belt opener via two-run bombs.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: TREY LEONARD
Leonard was efficient at the plate tonight while also hitting his first homer run of the season. Leonard went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and one stolen base. Leonard’s batting average improved to .300 on the year.
UP NEXT: Louisiana (9-8) will take on Troy (12-5) Saturday at Riddle Pace Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.