Troy University’s baseball team lost 5-2 to East Carolina University (ECU) on the second day of the Keith LeClair Classic in Greenville, North Carolina.
The Pirates outperformed Troy at the plate, recording 11 hits compared to Troy’s six. ECU pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts and did not allow a walk during the game. Gavin Van Kempen started for ECU, striking out nine over 5.1 innings and giving up one run. Sean Jenkins closed the game with four strikeouts in 3.2 innings, conceding only an unearned run after Josh Pyne reached base on a dropped third strike and later scored on Drew Nelson’s double.
Aaron Piasecki made his first career start in centerfield for Troy and briefly gave his team the lead in the third inning by hitting a home run. However, ECU responded immediately with three runs in their half of the inning. Matthew Lashley began the bottom of the third with a solo home run before three more hits brought in two additional runs.
Noah Thigpen started for Troy and pitched 5.1 innings—his longest outing this season—allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out three batters. He was replaced by Zach Crotchfelt after giving up a single and a sacrifice bunt at the start of the sixth inning; Colby Wallace then doubled to score an inherited runner. Crotchfelt went 2.2 innings, surrendering one earned run on a bloop double that fell just beyond shortstop Nolan Book’s reach.
Additional highlights included Jimmy Janicki going 2-for-4 at bat, maintaining his position as team leader with five multi-hit games this season. Josh Pyne hit his second double of the year, bringing his career total to 60 doubles—the second-most among active college players—and extended his hitting streak to six games. Drew Nelson hit his fifth double of the season, leading all Trojans.
Head coach Skylar Meade commented: “They got four of their five runs with two outs, obviously in very interesting ways. That’s a game that you’re going to have to find a way to win. I thought Thigpen and Crotchfelt’s compete were great – that’s why they executed well.”
Meade added: “One more pitch for Thigpen in a zone that he wants, and I think he feels very different about the night.”
Troy will finish its participation in the Keith LeClair Classic against Rutgers on Sunday morning at 10 a.m., with left-hander Benjamin Stubbs starting for Troy and right-hander Chris Sand scheduled for Rutgers.
