2021 Troy Trojans baseball team


The 2021 Troy Trojans baseball team represented Troy University during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Trojans played their home games at Riddle–Pace Field and were led by sixth-year head coach Mark Smartt. They were members of the Sun Belt Conference.

2021 Troy Trojans baseball
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record27–26 (13–11 SBC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Shane Gierke
  • Matt Hancock
Home stadiumRiddle–Pace Field
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 Sun Belt Conference baseball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East Division
South Alabama  x‍‍y 15 9   .625 36 22   .621
Georgia Southern  ‍‍‍ 14 10   .583 34 23   .596
Troy  ‍‍‍ 13 11   .542 27 26   .509
Appalachian State  ‍‍‍ 11 10   .524 21 31   .404
Georgia State  ‍‍‍ 12 12   .500 18 37   .327
Coastal Carolina  ‍‍‍ 9 12   .429 27 24   .529
West Division
Louisiana  x‍‍‍ 13 11   .542 32 23   .582
UT Arlington  ‍‍‍ 13 11   .542 27 30   .474
Louisiana–Monroe  ‍‍‍ 11 13   .458 26 26   .500
Little Rock  ‍‍‍ 11 13   .458 21 30   .412
Arkansas State  ‍‍‍ 10 14   .417 19 30   .388
Texas State  ‍‍‍ 9 15   .375 21 36   .368
x – Division champion
‡ – Tournament champion
y – Invited to the NCAA tournament
As of June 7, 2021[1]
Rankings from D1Baseball

Preseason edit

Signing Day Recruits edit

[2]

Player Hometown Previous Team
Pitchers
Dillon Cook Huntsville, Alabama Grissom HS
Javi Marrero Columbus, Georgia Pacelli HS
Keaton Fuller Fairhope, Alabama Fairhope HS
Dawson Hamilton Dothan, Alabama Dothan HS
Logan Ross Opp, Alabama Southern Union CC
Hitters
Michael Furry Orlando, Florida Lake Highland Prep
Eric Day Oviedo, Florida Oviedo HS

Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll edit

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 15, 2021 and the Trojans were picked to finish fourth in the East Division with 44 votes.[3]

Coaches poll (East)
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Coastal Carolina 69 (10)
2 South Alabama 51 (1)
2 Georgia Southern 51 (1)
4 Troy 44
5 Appalachian State 21
6 Georgia State 16

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team & Honors edit

  • Aaron Funk (LR, Pitcher)
  • Jordan Jackson (GASO, Pitcher)
  • Conor Angel (LA, Pitcher)
  • Wyatt Divis (UTA, Pitcher)
  • Lance Johnson (TROY, Pitcher)
  • Caleb Bartolero (TROY, Catcher)
  • William Sullivan (TROY, 1st Base)
  • Luke Drumheller (APP, 2nd Base)
  • Drew Frederic (TROY, Shortstop)
  • Cooper Weiss (CCU, 3rd Base)
  • Ethan Wilson (USA, Outfielder)
  • Parker Chavers (CCU, Outfielder)
  • Rigsby Mosley (TROY, Outfielder)
  • Eilan Merejo (GSU, Designated Hitter)
  • Andrew Beesly (ULM, Utility)

Personnel edit

Roster edit

[4]

2021 Troy Trojans roster
 

Pitchers

  • 10 Matt Snell - Freshman
  • 11 Orlando Ortiz - Junior
  • 13 Tyson Ellis - Sophomore
  • 14 Bay Witcher - Sophomore
  • 20 Lance Johnson - Senior
  • 22 Marquez Oates - Junior
  • 23 Max Newton - Senior
  • 24 Ryan Fultz - Senior
  • 26 Noah Janney - Freshman
  • 27 Davis Burgin - Sophomore
  • 29 Mason Kenney - Sophomore
  • 32 Kyle Gamble - Sophomore
  • 35 Ryan Pettys - Freshman
  • 36 DJ Wilkinson - Junior
  • 37 Dominick Miller - Sophomore
  • 42 Zach Moore - Senior
  • 44 Garrett Gainous - Freshman
  • 45 Nicholas Barber - Freshman
  • 46 Peyton Wesson - Freshman
  • 47 Grayson Stewart - Freshman
  • 49 Beau Fletcher - Freshman
  • 51 Judson Hershiser - Freshman
 

Catchers

  • 8 Caleb Bartolero - Sophomore
  • 38 Brady Sherrill - Junior
  • 40 Clay Sterns - Sophomore
  • 48 Logan Blackmon - Junior

Infielders

  • 1 Drew Frederic - Senior
  • 2 Jesse Hall - Junior
  • 4 Austin Garofalo - Junior
  • 6 Nic Nolan - Sophomore
  • 17 Easton Kirk - Junior
  • 18 Tanner Jackson - Sophomore
  • 30 William Sullivan - Freshman
  • 31 Donovan Whibbs - Sophomore
  • 33 Taylor Pridgen - Sophomore

Outfielders

  • 5 Reed Smith - Junior
  • 7 Kyle Mock - Freshman
  • 15 Dalton Sinquefield - Senior
  • 16 Logan Cerny - Sophomore
  • 21 Rigsby Mosley - Junior
  • 39 Seth Johnson - Freshman
  • 43 Hudson Hartsfield - Redshirt Freshman

Coaching staff edit

2021 Troy Trojans coaching staff
  • Mark Smartt – Head Coach – 6th year
  • Shane Gierke – Assistant Head Coach– 6th year
  • Matt Hancock – Assistant Head Coach – 3rd year
  • Peyton Fuller – Volunteer Assistant Coach – 5th year
  • Adam Godwin – Director of Player Performance and Development – 3rd year
  • Jackson Cofer – Director of Operations – 1st year

Schedule and results edit

Legend
  Troy win
  Troy loss
  Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions
Bold Troy team member
2021 Troy Trojans baseball game log
Regular season (27-24)
February (7-1)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Feb. 19 Youngstown State Riddle–Pace FieldTroy, AL W 10-4 Ortiz (1-0) Clark (0-1) None 959 1-0
Feb. 20 Youngstown State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 8-2 Gainous (1-0) Floyd (0-1) Oates (1) 1,002 2-0
Feb. 20 Youngstown State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 13-6 Witcher (1-0) Perry (0-1) None 1,002 3-0
Feb. 21 Youngstown State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL L 2-4 Snyder (1-0) Wilkinson (0-1) Clift Jr. (1) 801 3-1
Feb. 23 UAB Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 10-3 Oates (1-0) Smith (0-1) None 925 4-1
Feb. 26 Jacksonville Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 6-3 Ortiz (2-0) Santana (0-2) Kenney (1) 834 5-1
Feb. 27 Jacksonville Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 8-1 Gainous (2-0) Cassala (0-1) None 910 6-1
Feb. 28 Jacksonville Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 9-0 Witcher (2-0) Temple (0-2) None 818 7-1 '
March (6-9)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Mar. 3 at Alabama Sewell–Thomas StadiumTuscaloosa, AL L 1-9 Shamblin (1-0) Gamble (0-1) Freeman (1) SECN+ 1,742 7-2
Mar. 5 at Southeastern Louisiana Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni FieldHammond, LA L 2-7 Bartley (1-1) Ortiz (2-1) None ESPN+ 898 7-3
Mar. 6 at Southeastern Louisiana Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA L 1-7 Warren (2-0) Gainous (2-1) None 868 7-4
Mar. 7 at Southeastern Louisiana Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field • Hammond, LA L 2-4 Hughes (1-0) Oates (1-1) None ESPN+ 833 7-5
Mar. 9 Samford Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL L 5-6 Cupo (3-0) Kenney (0-1) Isbell (3) ESPN+ 714 7-6
Mar. 12 Tulane Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL L 4-9 Olthoff (2-0) Gamble (0-2) None ESPN+ 776 7-7
Mar. 13 Tulane Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 12-3 Kenney (1-1) Benoit (0-1) None ESPN+ 875 8-7
Mar. 14 Tulane Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL L 2-14 Aldrich (1-0) Witcher (2-1) None ESPN+ 818 8-8
Mar. 16 Alabama Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL Game Postponed
Mar. 19 Georgia Southern Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL L 1-8 Owens (1-0) Ortiz (2-2) None ESPN+ 809 8-9 0-1
Mar. 20 Georgia Southern Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 11-8 Gainous (3-1) Dollander (2-1) None ESPN+ 1,057 9-9 1-1
Mar. 21 Georgia Southern Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 8-4 Witcher (3-1) Johnson (1-1) Pettys (1) ESPN+ 831 10-9 2-1
Mar. 24 vs. Alabama State Montgomery Riverwalk StadiumMontgomery, AL W 16-3 Gamble (1-2) Mendez (0-2) None 1,029 11-9
Mar. 26 UCF Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL L 3-6 Gordon (3-2) Ortiz (2-3) None ESPN+ 761 11-10
Mar. 27 UCF Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 2-1 Gainous (4-1) Sinclair (1-2) Kenney (2) ESPN+ 1,020 12-10
Mar. 28 UCF Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 14-12 (8 inns) Johnson (1-0) Jones (2-2) Oates (2) ESPN+ 755 13-10
April (7-10)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
Apr. 1 at South Alabama Eddie Stanky FieldMobile, AL L 0-6 Lee (2-1) Witcher (3-2) Smith (1) ESPN+ 787 13-11 2-2
Apr. 2 at South Alabama Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL L 3-6 Boswell (2-0) Wilkinson (0-2) None ESPN+ 812 13-12 2-3
Apr. 3 at South Alabama Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, AL L 0-8 Booker (3-0) Gainous (4-2) Dalton (2) ESPN+ 847 13-13 2-4
Apr. 6 at Samford Joe Lee Griffin StadiumBirmingham, AL L 3-4 Isbell (2-1) Kenney (1-2) None 137 13-14
Apr. 9 Texas State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL L 2-4 Leigh (2-4) Ortiz (2-4) Stivors (5) ESPN+ 756 13-15 2-5
Apr. 10 Texas State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL L 1-3 Herrmann (4-0) Gainous (4-3) Bush (1) ESPN+ 1,005 13-16 2-6
Apr. 11 Texas State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 5-3 Oates (2-1) Martinez (0-1) Newton (1) ESPN+ 703 14-16 3-6
Apr. 13 at UAB Regions FieldBirmingham, AL W 12-4 Gamble (2-2) Reed (0-1) None 359 15-16
Apr. 16 at Georgia State Georgia State Baseball ComplexDecatur, GA W 4-0 Gainous (5-3) Jones (0-5) None 214 16-16 4-6
Apr. 17 at Georgia State Georgia State Baseball Complex • Decatur, GA L 5-7 Treadway (1-4) Wilkinson (0-3) Lutz (1) 398 16-17 4-7
Apr. 18 at Georgia State Georgia State Baseball Complex • Decatur, GA L 15-17 (10 inns) Dawson (1-2) Snell (0-1) None 401 16-18 4-8
Apr. 20 at Jacksonville State Rudy Abbott FieldJacksonville, AL L 1-6 Luigs (2-1) Pettys (0-1) None 720 16-19
Apr. 23 Appalachian State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 2-0 Gainous (6-3) Tuthill (2-4) Oates (3) ESPN+ 843 17-19 5-8
Apr. 24 Appalachian State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 9-4 Ortiz (3-4) Cornatzer (1-1) None ESPN+ 804 18-19 6-8
Apr. 25 Appalachian State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 12-2 (8 inns) Witcher (4-2) Martinez (3-6) None ESPN+ 804 19-19 7-8
Apr. 27 Jacksonville State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 2-0 Oates (3-1) Peppers (0-3) None ESPN+ 774 20-19
Apr. 30 at No. 20 Florida State Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser StadiumTallahassee, FL L 2-3 Messick (5-2) Gainous (6-4) Anderson (1) ACCN+ 1,491 20-20
May (7–4)
Date Opponent Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record SBC record
May 1 at No. 20 Florida State Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, FL W 3-0 Ortiz (4-4) Hubbart (5-3) Oates (4) ACCN+ 1,687 21-20
May 2 at No. 20 Florida State Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium • Tallahassee, FL L 2-4 Ahearn (2-1) Wilkinson (0-4) Anderson (2) ACCN+ 1,476 21-21
May 7 at Coastal Carolina Springs Brooks StadiumConway, SC W 9-7 Gainous (7-4) Alaska (1-2) Oates (5) ESPN+ 1,000 22-21 8-8
May 8 at Coastal Carolina Springs Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC W 9-7 Ortiz (5-4) Parker (3-4) Oates (6) ESPN+ 1,000 23-21 9-8
May 9 at Coastal Carolina Springs Brooks Stadium • Conway, SC W 10-6 Witcher (5-2) Kurki (0-1) None ESPN+ 1,000 24-21 10-8
May 11 Alabama State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL Game cancelled
May 14 Arkansas State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 12-4 Gainous (8-4) Hudson (4-2) None 834 25-21 11-8
May 15 Arkansas State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL W 3-1 Ortiz (6-4) Nash (3-5) Oates (7) 866 26-21 12-8
May 16 Arkansas State Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, AL L 5-9 Holt (4-3) Witcher (6-3) None 816 26-22 12-9
May 20 at Louisiana M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo ParkLafayette, LA W 6-5 Gainous (9-4) Arrighetti (7-5) Oates (8) ESPN+ 460 27-22 13-9
May 21 at Louisiana M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 2-3 Cooke (7-3) Ortiz (6-5) Talley (8) ESPN+ 958 27-23 13-10
May 22 at Louisiana M. L. Tigue Moore Field at Russo Park • Lafayette, LA L 1-2 Dixon (3-0) Witcher (5-4) Schultz (4) ESPN+ 1,227 27-24 13-11
Post-season (0–2)
SBC Tournament (0–2)
Date Opponent Seed/Rank Site/stadium Score Win Loss Save TV Attendance Overall record Tournament record
May 25 vs. (5W) Arkansas State (3E) Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL L 6-9 Stone (1-2) Oates (3-2) None ESPN+ 27-25 0-1
May 28 vs. (2W) UT Arlington (3E) Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium • Montgomery, AL L 5-11 Seals (4-0) Gainous (9-5) None ESPN+ 27-26 0-2
Schedule Source:[5]

*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.

Postseason edit

Conference accolades edit

  • Player of the Year: Mason McWhorter – GASO
  • Pitcher of the Year: Hayden Arnold – LR
  • Freshman of the Year: Garrett Gainous – TROY
  • Newcomer of the Year: Drake Osborn – LA
  • Coach of the Year: Mark Calvi – USA

References:[6]

Rankings edit

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
Coaches'[7]—*
Baseball America[8]
Collegiate Baseball^[9]RV
NCBWA[10]
D1Baseball[11]

^ Collegiate Baseball ranked 40 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranked 30 teams weekly during the season.
NCBWA ranks 35 teams in their preseason poll, but only ranks 30 teams weekly during the season.
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

References edit

  1. ^ "Sun Belt Conference baseball standings". D1Baseball.com. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "Troy Baseball Inks Seven on Signing Day". Troy University Athletics. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  3. ^ Conference, Sun Belt. "Sun Belt Conference Announces 2021 Baseball Preseason Honors". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  4. ^ "2021 Baseball Roster". Troy University Athletics. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  5. ^ "2021 Baseball Schedule". Troy University Athletics. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  6. ^ "Sun Belt Announces 2021 Baseball All-Conference Teams & Postseason Awards". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "Baseball Coaches Poll". Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "College Baseball Top 25 Rankings". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "2019 Collegiate Baseball Polls - Collegiate Baseball Newspaper". baseballnews.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "NCBWA > News". sportswriters.net. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "College Baseball Rankings News & Analysis". d1baseball.com. Retrieved February 28, 2021.