June 3, 2011
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| Tournament Central
Backed by an impressive outing from top starting pitcher Tyler Ray, Troy pulled away from Oklahoma State late to claim the first game of the NCAA Nashville Regional on Friday afternoon at Hawkins Field with a 9-2 victory.
Ray struck out five Oklahoma State batters in 7.2 innings of work and allowed just two hits after the third inning to pick up his 12th win of the season for the Trojans. Lefthander Nathan Hill recorded the final four Cowboy outs to secure the win.
Luis Uribe’s leadoff home run in the bottom of the second inning and an RBI single by Zach Johnson in the third inning gave Oklahoma State an early 2-0 advantage. But Ray settled down to keep the Cowboys within range, and the Trojans cut the lead in half with a run in the fifth before scoring three runs in the sixth to take the lead for good. Cowboy starter Hunter Herrera was chased after 5.1 innings and credited with the loss.
The Trojans batted around in the eighth and scored five runs to extend their lead out to seven. Third baseman Tyler Hannah drove in three with a bases loaded triple over the head of the Oklahoma State rightfielder, then scored two batters later when Trojan second baseman T.J. Rivera capped off his 3-for-5 day with a double that drove in two more runs.
Oklahoma State will play tomorrow at 2 p.m. CT against the loser of tonight’s game between Vanderbilt and Belmont, while Troy will take on the winner of tonight’s game tomorrow at 7 p.m.
