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TROY, Ala. – A pair of five-run innings led the Troy University baseball team to a 14-4 victory over Northern Kentucky University at Riddle Pace Field on Sunday afternoon to conclude the first series of the season for both squads.
Jo-El Bennett finished 3-for-5 with three home runs and six RBIs to lead Troy, which improved to 3-1. Trevin Hall went 3-for-4 with two runs and one double, stolen base and RBI for the Trojans, while Peyton Fuller, Matthew Howard and Nick Masonia each recorded two-hit days.
Logan Spurlin led the way for NKU, which fell to 1-3, by going 2-for-3 at the plate. The sophomore first baseman from Evanston, Ill., hit his first home run of the season, and he also collected a double and three RBIs.
NKU wasted no time putting runs on the scoreboard.
Quint Heady began the game with a leadoff double to right field. After two Norse strikeouts, Spurlin stepped to the plate and sent a 3-2 Will Starling pitch over the left-center wall for a 2-0 Norse lead at the end of the first inning.
Troy, however, answered in the bottom of the frame. Trevin Hall sparked the rally with a two-out single, and he proceeded to steal second. David Hall, who only recorded two outs during the four-game series, was intentionally walked. Kevin Brown brought both baserunners home with a double to left-center field to tie the game.
Bennett gained the lead for the Trojans with his first home run of the game in the bottom of the second inning.
The 3-2 score would stand until the top of the fourth inning.
Jordan Procyshen doubled down the right-field line to start the inning, and Spurlin followed with a walk.
Cody Kuzniczci loaded the bases when he reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Spurlin to second, and Procyshen reached third on a error by third baseman TJ Bender. A
Ryan LeFevers ground out allowed Procyshen to score and tie the game at 3-all.
Troy responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead for good. Howard reached base with a double to start the inning, and Bennett's second homer of the game gave the Trojans a 5-3 advantage. Justin Hancock followed with a single to right field, spelling the end of the day for starting pitcher
Kyle Colletta, who started the previous three games at shortstop for the Norse.
Garrett Schrantz took the mound for his first collegiate appearance for NKU. He got the first out of the inning before giving up back-to-back hits to Fuller and Garrett Pitts allowed Hancock and Fuller to score for a 7-3 lead. Three straight walks added an extra run to the scoreboard for the Trojans before the Norse got out of the inning.
The Trojans added runs in the fifth and eighth innings, and a sixth-inning double by Spurlin brought home
Zac Asman in the top of the sixth for the final margin of the game.
Starling (1-0) pitched four inning and gave up two earned runs on four hits for the victory for Troy. He struck out four batters and walked one. Colletta (0-1) went three innings for NKU after surrendering six runs on seven hits.
Heady and Procyshen each went 2-for-4 and scored a run for NKU, which committed three errors on the day. Asman extended his hitting streak to three games with his single in the sixth, and
Barrett Arnold recorded his first collegiate hit in the seventh inning.
NKU makes its first trip of the season to the west coast next weekend as the Norse face San Diego for a four-game series Feb. 21-23. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 9 p.m. Saturday will feature a doubleheader between the two teams starting at 4 p.m., and Sunday's conclusion is also slated for 4 p.m. Links to live stats and John Asalon's audio broadcast will be available at nkunorse.com.
