Troy lost 7-3 to Alabama on March 10 in a midweek baseball game, marking its final matchup before the start of conference play this weekend.
The game saw both teams record five hits each, but Alabama capitalized on seven walks and five hit batters compared to Troy’s five walks and one hit batter. The Crimson Tide, now with a 15-3 record, used these opportunities to build their lead over the Trojans, who fell to 6-10.
Chase Cartron made his first career start for Troy, hitting the first two batters he faced before Alabama scored early with a sacrifice fly from Luke Vaughn. The Crimson Tide continued to add runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings by turning walks and hit batters into scoring chances. In the second inning, Jose Torres homered off Dylan King’s first pitch. After back-to-back walks led to King’s exit, Hayden Smith entered in relief and delivered a career-long 3.1 innings with only one hit allowed and two strikeouts.
Troy managed to score in the third inning when Drew Nelson and Zaid Diaz singled with two outs before Josh Pyne doubled down the line to bring Nelson home. Diaz was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first base. In the sixth inning, Jimmy Janicki hit his fourth home run of the season—a two-run shot that ties him for the team lead—briefly cutting Alabama’s lead.
Head Coach Skylar Meade said after the game: “Too much passiveness. Too many freebies. Five hits on the scoreboard, but more runs. It means freebies happened.”
Troy will begin Sun Belt Conference play this weekend with a three-game series against Old Dominion at Riddle-Pace Field.
