Troy baseball update
February 25, 2008
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.
