Troy Wins 13-8 Slugfest Over Hogs

TROY, Ala. – Troy erupted for 10 runs in the first two innings on Saturday as the Trojans evened the series at one game apiece with an 13-8 win over No. 6 Arkansas in front of 1,873 fans at Riddle-Pace Field.

The loss dropped the Razorbacks to 3-2 on the season while the Trojans improved to 1-1.

The Razorbacks picked up Saturday right where they let off Friday night with five runs on two hits in the first inning. Danny Hamblin broke out of a season-opening 1-for-15 slump with his first home run of the season. The towering three-run shot to left field also accounted for his first three RBI of the year.

The final two runs of the first inning came around to score when Ben Woods dropped a pop fly in short right field allowing Aaron Murphree and Dylan Duren to score.

But the Hogs could not hold the momentum as Shaun Seibert continued to struggle with his command on the mound, issuing walks to the first two hitters. Clint Robinson then connected for a long home run to center field after Seibert fell behind in the count.

Seibert walked the leadoff hitter in the second inning and then allowed a RBI triple to left-center field past a diving Stephen Robison. That would be the end of the day for Seibert, who allowed five runs on three hits and three walks in one-plus inning of work.

Stephen Richards (0-1) came on and allowed Seibert’s final hitter to score on a wild pitch and a RBI singles to Brett Henry and Kevin Weidlich. Travis Hill came on to relieve Richards and surrendered a three-run homer as the Trojans put up seven runs in the second inning. Hill would settled down and keep the Hogs in the game with 4.1 innings of relief, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out two.

Troy scored six runs on six walks and two hit batters by Arkansas pitchers on the day. Clint Robinson and Ben Woods both connected for three-run home runs while Brett Henry and Matt Tanzi got two hits each.

Troy starting pitcher Joe Hallahan (1-0) earned the win after allowing seven runs – five earned – on five hits over five inning of work. Josh Dew earned his first save of the season, recording the final five outs of the game to record his first save of the season.

After a rough first inning, Hallahan settled down and retired eight straight before Tim Smalling lined a one-out double down the left field line in the fourth inning that came around to score on a single to right by Logan Forsythe. Brian Walker replaced Jeff Nutt behind the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning and hit a solo home run to left in the fifth inning to cut the Trojans’ lead to 10-7.

Troy tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out flare that fell in front of Aaron Murphree in right field to score to score Brett Henry that reached base on an infield hit and moved to second on a wild pitch.

The Razorbacks threatened in the eighth inning, loading the bases with one out off Troy’s star closer Josh Dew. But the right-handed senior recorded back-to-back strikeouts of Sean Jones and Casey Coon to get out of the inning. UA did plated a run in the inning with a RBI single to left field by Smalling that was charged to Ryan Ellison.

Troy once again answered the Hogs’ run with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly Kevin Weidlich and a triple by Bryan Miller that went in and out of Jake Dugger’s glove in center field as he slammed into the wall.

The rubber match of the three-game series is set for 1 p.m. Saturday from Riddle-Pace Field.