Basketball tonight

February 27, 2008

Drew Champlin

Troy hosts Florida Atlantic tonight in senior night. The women start at 5:15 p.m. and seniors Audrey Muse, Laura Lee Holman, Amy Lewis, Myra Farr and Zena Lawrence will be honored prior to the game.

For the men, seniors Jerome Odem, Jarvis Acker, Justin Jonus and O’Darien Bassett will be honored.

Earlier this week, I wrote about how Muse overcame a heart problem to return this season.

And today, I wrote about how Acker has overcome ups and downs and will get his degree in May.

Troy improves to 5-0

February 26, 2008

Drew Champlin

I spoke with catcher Beau Brooks yesterday for a feature Friday. All I said was “don’t get hurt” because then I couldn’t run it.

All he did was score all three runs in Troy’s 3-1 win at Kennesaw State, finishing a triple short of the cycle. Here is the box score.

Looks like Troy head coach Bobby Pierce put the ball in the hands of freshmen late and threw them into the fire. RHP Drew Hull went 2.1 innings, giving up just one hit. LHP A.J. Howard came on for the last batter with a runner on and struck him out to get the save. Junior RHP Mike Powers struck out six in five innings of three-hit ball to get the win. The only run came off senior RHP Rob Brown, who was making his first appearance of the year.

Troy is back in action this weekend at the ScreenTech Wiregrass Classic in Dothan, going Friday at 6 p.m. against Penn State. 

Troy baseball update

February 25, 2008

Drew Champlin

Troy (4-0) had one of its best opening weekends, sweeping Rhode Island in a four-game set.

Ten Trojan pitchers gave up just four runs in the four games.

“Each guy came in and pitched like they had been in practice and like they have been training since they’ve been on campus,” head coach Bobby Pierce said. “It’s unusual to be 10-for-10 in that category.”

The hitting wasn’t spectacular, but featured several clutch hits, including a couple of big three-run homers. The first, by junior first baseman Brock Kelley, gave Troy a 7-2 lead in the opener. Bryan Miller’s three-run shot in the third game broke a 1-1 tie.

“The hits came at very opportune times in a weekend where we certainly weren’t hot with the bat,” Pierce said.

Kelley, a JUCO transfer from LBW-Andalusia, made his bid for some playing time.

“He’s probably our best defensive option at first base,” Pierce said. “He’s ironed a couple of things out offensively. His bat got a little quicker and the ball started coming off the bat a bit better. We had plans for Brock, but certainly didn’t know to what degree.”

Pierce said redshirt junior pitcher Pete Van Horn, who prepped at nearby Charles Henderson, left the team. Van Horn was a freshman phenom in 2005 but hadn’t pitched much since.

Troy plays at Kennesaw State today at 3 p.m. Junior Mike Powers, who struck out three in one inning over the weekend, is expected to start on the mound.

Trojans finish sweep

February 24, 2008

Drew Champlin

Troy beats Rhode Island 3-1 Sunday to finish the sweep over Rhode Island.

I’ve long said if Troy can pitch, they’ll be pretty good because they’ll hit. Maybe that should be the opposite, because Troy’s pitching this weekend was nothing short of spectacular. The hitting was decent enough given that several players saw action.

Junior RHP Andrew Dickinson gave up just one hit and one run in six innings, but couldn’t get the win. JJ Whetsel (1-0) got the win with a hitless seventh inning. Neal Jordan pitched the eighth and Josh Storm survived a little bit of trouble in the ninth to get his first save.

Trevor Tyre led off the game with a solo homer, Beau Brooks hit an RBI triple in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie and Lance Miller had an RBI double in the eighth.

Troy plays at Kennesaw State Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Sunday links

Drew Champlin

From the Dothan Eagle

Basketball: Troy holds off FIU

Baseball: Pitching leads the way in doubleheader sweep