Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On Thursday, Troy Trojans lost game one in the final Sun Belt Conference series of the regular season to the James Madison Dukes by a score of 13-11.

James Madison let for much of the game, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and held an 11-6 lead going into the bottom of the eighth. Troy’s Kole Myers then blasted a three-run home run that brought the Trojans within two runs. In the top of the ninth, however, JMU scored three more runs and Troy was only able to add one run in the bottom of the ninth.

Meyers went 3-for-5 at the plate for the Trojans with a homer, three RBIs and two runs, while Tremayne Cobb Jr. went 2-for-5 with a home run, one RBI and two runs. Kyle Mock went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run. Aidan Gilroy went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and one run.

Garrett Gainous pitched four innings for the Trojans, striking out seven batters and giving up four hits and five earned runs. Beau Fletcher also pitched two and 1/3 innings and fanned one batter, while giving up no hits and one earned run.

“Major tip of the cap to JMU. They played better,” Troy Coach Skylar Meade said. “They were coached better. And they were able to handle themselves in the big moments. Our offensive fight was good, but our pitching and defense just weren’t enough—great job by those guys to be ready.

“We have to be better across the board, starting tomorrow. Fletcher came out and executed how he prepared. He’s battled through a lot of stuff, and wholeheartedly, his belief is second to none. He’s going to get the baseball a lot down the stretch. He might throw every inning for the rest of the year if he plays like he did tonight. We’re in a position to make things happen. Now, we just need to bounce back and do a better job setting the tone.”

For JMU, Fenwick Trimble went 4-for-5 at the plate with a double, a home run, three RBIs and three runs. Todd Mozoki earned the win on the mound, striking out three and giving up one hit and one earned run in four innings of work.

Troy will look to rebound in game two of the series on Friday night at 6 p.m. at Riddle-Pace Field.