Troy University’s baseball team lost an 11-10 game in ten innings to New Orleans at Maestri Field on April 14. The Trojans, now holding an 18-19 record, ended their four-game road trip with the close defeat against the Privateers, who improved to 16-23.
The matchup was marked by frequent lead changes and ties, with Troy outhitting New Orleans 16-12. However, Troy’s pitchers issued nine walks and three hit batters compared to seven walks and two hit batters from UNO pitchers. Jimmy Janicki led Troy offensively by going 3-for-6 and driving in a career-best six runs. He also contributed back-to-back home runs alongside Steven Meier in the fourth inning that tied the score at seven.
Troy briefly took an 8-7 lead in the sixth inning before UNO responded with a solo home run from Owen Smith. Cooper Ellingworth allowed only that run during his three innings of relief work while striking out a season-high six hitters. Janicki continued his strong performance with a two-run double in the seventh inning, but Eli Tidwell’s two-run homer for New Orleans tied it again in the eighth.
Drew Nelson pitched a scoreless ninth for Troy but was unable to hold off UNO in extra innings as Josh Hoffman delivered a walk-off single after Adrian Dominguez’s ground-rule double extended the frame. Earlier in the contest, Troy had taken early leads through RBI singles from Janicki and Meier before falling behind due to struggles by starting pitcher Matt Dill.
Other notable performances included Josh Pyne extending his hitting streak to ten games—his career totals now leading all active Division I players—and Blake Cavill reaching base for his twenty-sixth consecutive game. Head Coach Skylar Meade said: “It’s us-versus-us. I’ve come to that conclusion. That’s not a conclusion I love. It’s an us-versus-us battle. It’s never been more apparent. Certain things that happen, just things you go ‘hey here’s what’s going to happen, here’s what you’ve got to do’, we’re not doing it.”
Looking ahead, Troy is set to return home for Sun Belt Conference play at Riddle-Pace Field this weekend with a three-game series against Louisiana.
