Close Call for Troy in Heartbreaking Loss to Southern Miss
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Troy Trojans, seeded fourth, nearly pulled off an upset against top-seeded Southern Miss but ultimately lost 7-6 in a dramatic finish at DABOS Park. It came down to a walk-off grand slam by Drey Barrett, sealing the game for the Golden Eagles.
As the ninth inning began, Troy had a comfortable lead of 6-2, thanks to solid pitching from Dylan Alonso and Noah Thigpen. Thigpen struck out three batters and kept the Golden Eagles at bay for two innings. However, things took a turn when Southern Miss loaded the bases with two singles and a walk.
Troy brought in Drew Nelson from right field to pitch but soon had to change pitchers again. Cooper Ellingworth took over, and after some back-and-forth with the batter Matthew Russo, Ellingworth struck him out. He got Barrett to an 0-2 count, but in a surprising twist, Barrett launched a pitch over the left field wall, ending the game in dramatic fashion.
The standout pitcher for Troy, Benjamin Stubbs, had a strong outing initially, preventing Southern Miss from scoring for five innings and recording five strikeouts. Unfortunately, he was knocked out of the game in the sixth inning after allowing a double to Russo and a home run to Barrett.
On the offensive front, Troy made a strong showing against Southern Miss starter Camden Clark. They scored four runs against him, with key hits from Houston Markham and Jimmy Janicki. Markham’s solo home run was particularly notable; it was his first of the season and part of a three-hit game.
Here are some highlights from the game:
- Markham’s home run traveled 368 feet with an exit velocity of 95 MPH.
- Janicki extended his hitting streak to eight games and became the Sun Belt leader with 71 RBIs.
- Aaron Piasecki had three hits for the fifth time this season.
Troy’s head coach, Skylar Meade, reflected on the game, saying, “We had the game in command the whole time and didn’t finish the job. We were positioned for success but just didn’t execute.”
Looking ahead, Troy will face South Alabama in an elimination game on Saturday morning. A win would lead them back to another showdown with Southern Miss.
This nail-biting finish highlights the unpredictable nature of sports and reminds fans of the thrill of the game. Statistics show that walk-off wins can significantly boost team morale and momentum, making this loss especially tough for Troy. In the world of college baseball, every pitch and play counts, adding to the excitement of tournament play.
