Northern Tier Sports ReportEAST TROY — Troy continued to have a flare for the dramatic this season as they got their second nine inning walk win of the year, this time 8-7 over CV in NTL baseball action Thursday.
The Trojans defeated Towanda, 14-13, in nine innings earlier this year, though that game took two days.
Reed Palmer drove in Mason Smith in the bottom of the ninth to get the win.
“It wasn’t pretty, but we were resilient in the way we fought back,” Troy coach Lyle Wesneski said. “They’re a good team, they’re scrappy. I love their approach at the plate - they’re aggressive and they put a lot of pressure on us.”
It was nip-and-tuck all game with the score 2-2 after one.
The Indians took the lead with a run in the second, then scored five in the third to go up 6-2.
Troy rallied with a 5-run sixth inning to take a 7-6 lead, only to watch the Indians push one across in the seventh to send it into extra baseball.
“I was proud of how we responded to being down 6-2,” remarked Wesneski. “We could have folded up in the sixth inning. We took a lead, gave it up, had a couple chances to finish it, but the kids kept playing, and finally we came away with the key hit when we had to.”
After a scoreless eighth Troy was able to get the winning run across in the ninth.
Brendan Gilliland (2-for-4) scored a run, and drove in an RBI for the Trojans as Logan Loxley (2-for-3) also scored and had an RBI..
Palmer (2-for-6) scored a run scored, and drove in an RBI, with Smith (2-for-5) crossing home three times.
Pryor Teribury (2-for-3) had a double, and 2-RBI, as Logunn Heasley (1-for-2) scored twice.
Frank Harper (1-for-4) chipped in with a hit.
Harper started, and went three innings with two strikeouts, no walks, six hits, and three runs, one of which was earned.
Palmer went the final six innings to get the win. He struck out five with one walk, eight hits, and four runs, two of which were earned.
Smith opened the bottom of the first with a hit, followed by Heasley getting beaned.
Gilliland would bring in Smith on a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 game.
After a second out Loxley drove in Heasley to make it 2-2.
Smith led off the sixth with a hit, followed by Heasley drawing a walk. Gilliland would reach to load the bases.
Palmer then hit a 2-run single to make it 6-4, followed by Loxley driving in Gilliland for a 6-5 ball game.
After a walk to Pryor Teribury doubled in Palmer and Loxley to make it 7-6 Troy.
CV would score on a passed ball in the seventh to send the game into extras.
Smith drew a walk to lead off the ninth. He was bunted over by Heasley, then reached third on a Gilliland ground out.
That set up Palmer’s game winning, walk-off single.
Troy (13-5) travels to Canton on Monday.
“It’s good for us playing tight games like that as we get ready for the playoffs,” said Wesneski.
