Northern Tier Sports ReportWYSOX — Troy came away with the season sweep on Towanda during NTL baseball action Tuesday.
They started the day by winning a postponed game, 14-13, in nine innings, then pulled out a 7-3 win in the nightcap.
“This time of year it’s good to see them not panic when we get down a run or two,” Troy coach Lyle Wesneski said. “They had bases loaded, and Frank (Harper) came in, and did a good job getting us out of a jam. We came in, and scored a few here, and just chipped away every inning, so it was a total team effort. I told them we did a good job moving guys when we had to.”
The two wins secure Troy’s spot in districts as they improve to 10-5 on the season with five games left.
The first game was tied 13-all after eight innings when they picked it up in the ninth.
Towanda would load the bases but Reed Palmer got back to back strikeouts to end the threat.
In the bottom half Mason Smith was hit by a pitch. Logunn Heasley bunted him over to second, then Brendan Gilliland drove him on a double for the 14-13 win in nine innings.
In the second game Towanda led 2-1 after one, but a 3-run third from the Trojans saw the up 4-2.
They tacked on another run in the fourth, then scored two more in the fifth to extend the lead to 7-2.
Towanda got one back in the sixth, but couldn’t get any closer.
The Trojans had five extra base hits in the game as Smith (2-for-3) had a double with two runs scored, and 2-RBI.
Palmer (2-for-3) had a double with 2-RBI, San Gilliland (1-for-1) had a triple with two runs scored.
Brody Ayres (1-for-4) and Trey Teribury (1-for-4) each had a triple with a run scored, as Frank Harper (1-for-2) drove in a run.
Logan Loxley scored with Pryor Teribury (1-for-4) getting a hit.
Palmer started the game but didn’t record an out, allowing three walks, one hit, and two earned runs.
Harper came on and pitched six innings for the win, striking out nine with three walks, eight hits, and one earned run.
Vinnie Colton pitched the final inning, striking out two.
Shane Maghamez (3-for-4) had an RBI as Lucas Vincent (3-for-4) also had a big day at the plate.
Harper Welles (2-for-3) scored twice with Brad Assante (1-for-3) driving in a run.
Boom Thompson scored as Avery Butts had an RBI.
Butts started, and went 2 2/3-innings with three strikeouts, six walks, five hits, and four earned runs.
Thompson went 2 1/3-innings with two strikeouts, two walks, three hits, and three unearned runs.
Hagen Jones tossed the final two innings with one strikeout, one walk, and one hit.
Smith led off the game with a hit, followed by Gilliland reaching on a walk two batters later.
Palmer then singled in Smith to put Troy up 1-0.
In the bottom half Thompson and Welles drew back to back walks, then Maghamez singled in Thompson to knot the game up.
Assante then drew a walk to load the bases.
Harper came in and immediately got a strikeout.
Butts then brought in Welles with a fielder’s choice to make it 2-1.
Harper then got a strikeout and a fly out to get out of the jam.
Gilliland led off the third with a walk, then scored on a Palmer double to tie the game up.
Loxley then drew a walk. After a fielder’s choice saw Palmer forced out a third Pryor Teribury singled to load the bases.
After a second out back to back walks to Harper and Smith brought in runs for a 4-2 ball game.
“Their lefty was pitching us backwards with a lot of breaking balls and then sneak a fast ball in,” Wesneski explained. “I just said, ‘be patient, get a pitch you can hit.’ We started hunting some pitches that were our pitches instead of chasing his. In the middle there they can do some damage for me when they’re on, so I was happy how we had a good day at the plate.”
In the fourth Gilliland led off with a triple then scored on a passed ball to make it 5-2.
Prey Teribury would reach on an error in the fifth followed by Harper hitting a single. Smith would double in Teribury.
Troy tried a squeeze with a Heasley bunt but Towanda caught courtesy runner Garret Parks out at home.
Gilliland then drew a walk, followed by Smith scoring on a passed ball for the 7-2 lead.
In the sixth Welles drew a 1-out walk, followed by Maghamez singling. That set up an Assante hit that brought in Welles to make it a 4-run game.
After a walk loaded the bases Troy got a double play to end the inning.
Towanda (5-8) will host Williamson on Thursday with a 4:30 p.m. start while Troy welcomes NEB.
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
