TROY, Ala. – No. 18 Troy begins a seven-game road trip this weekend with a three-game series at Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., Friday-Sunday. The Trojans’ trip to Norfolk will be Troy’s first-ever meeting with the Monarchs, as Old Dominion joined the Sun Belt Conference ahead of the 2022-23 academic year. Following the weekend at […]
TROY, Ala. – No. 18 Troy begins a seven-game road trip this weekend with a three-game series at Old Dominion in Norfolk, Va., Friday-Sunday.
The Trojans’ trip to Norfolk will be Troy’s first-ever meeting with the Monarchs, as Old Dominion joined the Sun Belt Conference ahead of the 2022-23 academic year. Following the weekend at Old Dominion, Troy will play a midweek game at Virginia Tech on April 9 before a three-game series at James Madison April 11-13.
Troy was ranked in all five major polls this week, topping at No. 18 in the Perfect Game Top 25. The Trojans have won all seven of their weekend series to start the season and currently sit second in the Sun Belt Conference standings at 6-3. The Trojans come into the matchup boasting one of the most dynamic offenses in the Sun Belt, leading the conference in batting average (.295), on-base percentage (.427) and runs per game (8.3).
Troy centerfielder Steven Meier has led the way for the Trojans out of the leadoff spot, leading the Sun Belt in runs scored (43), hit by pitches (16) and stolen bases (16). Meier spent his junior season at Old Dominion last year and will face his former team after reaching base safely in all six of his plate appearances against Florida A&M on Wednesday, going 2-for-2 with a home run, two walks, and two HBPs.
On the mound, senior right-hander Garrett Gainous will get the start in the series opener. Gainous has racked up 244 strikeouts in his career at Troy and is six away from becoming the fourth pitcher in Troy history to record 250 punchouts. Noah Edders will start Game 2 after going 7.1 innings with seven strikeouts in Saturday’s 4-3 win over Marshall. Head coach Skylar Meade has not named a starter for Game 3.
Gameday Info
The Matchup: No. 18 Troy (22-8, 6-3 Sun Belt) at Old Dominion (8-18, 4-5 Sun Belt)
Game Times: Friday – 5 p.m. CT | Saturday 2 p.m. CT | 12 p.m. CT
Location: Norfolk, Va. – Harbor Park
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Troy Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: TroyStats.com
Probable Starters
Game 1
Troy: Garrett Gainous (4-0, 32.1 IP, 3.90 ERA), RHP, Sr.
ODU: Ben Moore (1-3, 27.0 IP, 7.67 ERA), LHP, Jr.
Game 2
Troy: Noah Edders (2-0, 37.0 IP, 4.86 ERA), RHP, Jr.
ODU: Dylan Brown (2-1, 37.2 IP, 4.30 ERA), LHP, Jr.
Game 3
Troy: TBA
ODU: Blake Morgan (2-2, 40.0 IP, 4.50 ERA), LHP, Sr.
Quick Hitters
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Troy was ranked in all five major polls this week, topping at No. 18 in the Perfect Game Top 25. The Trojans were also ranked No. 20 by D1Baseball, Baseball America and NCBWA, and No. 21 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
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Troy has won each of its first seven weekend series for the first time since 2011. The Trojans won each of their first eight weekend series that season.
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Troy is one of 12 teams to not lose a weekend series this season, joining Arkansas, Clemson, Dallas Baptist, ETSU, Florida State, Georgia, Southern Miss, Tennessee, Texas, UC Irvine and UCLA.
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Troy is leading the Sun Belt Conference in batting average (.295) and on-base percentage (.427).
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Gavin Schrader’s home run off Marshall LHP Bryce Blevins on Friday was Troy’s first home run off a left-handed pitcher this season. 38 of Troy’s 39 home runs this season have come against righties.
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Steven Meier, a transfer from Old Dominion, leads the Sun Belt Conference in stolen bases (16), hit by pitches (16) and runs scored (43).
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Blake Cavill ranks sixth in the country in walks (33) and 12th in on-base percentage (.549).
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Jimmy Janicki is batting .529 in Sun Belt games, which leads the conference.
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Brooks Bryan leads the Sun Belt Conference in RBIs (43), which is ten more than South Alabama’s Kyle Morrison for second place (33).
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Gainous is six strikeouts away from becoming the fourth pitcher in Troy history to record 250 career strikeouts. He would join Jason Fawcett (425), Shane McCain (273) and Tyler Ray (259).
Scouting Old Dominion
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Old Dominion enters the week with an 8-18 overall record and 4-5 in the Sun Belt Conference under 14th-year head coach Chris Finwood.
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The Monarchs currently sit at No. 93 in the NCAA RPI and have played the No. 13 strength of schedule in the country.
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The Old Dominion pitching staff ranks 13th in the Sun Belt with a 6.81 team ERA. The Monarchs rank 12th in the conference in hits per nine innings (9.99), fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (9.4) and seventh in walks per nine innings (4.81).
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Saturday starter Dylan Brown currently leads the Sun Belt and ranks 18th in the country with 54 strikeouts this season. Sunday starter Blake Morgan sits at fourth in the conference with 42 strikeouts.
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The Old Dominion offense ranks 11th in the Sun Belt with a .250 team batting average. The Monarchs rank ninth in home runs (23) and 12th in runs per game (4.8).
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Infielder Zach Leite is the team’s leading hitter with a .359 batting average, and he’s tied with outfielder Luke Waters for the team lead with 18 RBIs. Outfielder T.J. Aiken leads the Monarchs with four home runs.
