OXFORD, Ala. – In the first six meetings between the Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans and the University of West Alabama Tigers on the baseball diamond since Trevecca joined the Gulf South Conference, the story has been pitching. Each of those six games were decided by two runs or less, and the meetings had been split right down the middle.
On Saturday afternoon at Choccolocco Park in the GSC Championship Opening game, the Trojans welcomed the Tigers on a visit to #MASHVILLE.
Trevecca (32-19) belted seven home runs and pounded out 20 hits as they cruised past the 11th-ranked Tigers (34-14), 13-7. Trevecca now advances to face the University of West Florida on Sunday with a trip to the winners' bracket final on the line.
The seven home runs are the most the Trojans have had in a single game since they blasted eight in a single game at Tiffin (Ohio) on April 16, 2022. The 20 hits the Trojans recorded also marked a season high, and it was the first time the Trojans have reached the 20-hit plateau since April 25, 2025 against Lane College.
SERIES HISTORY/NOTES
Trevecca's win now gives them two straight in the all-time series, and including the only two games that were played prior to TNU joining the GSC, UWA's series lead is now cut to 5-4.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Coming off a pair of wins that helped the Trojans build a little momentum at the end of the regular season, Trevecca jumped all over West Alabama Starter Baker Green in the top of the first. Rylan Moses singled to lead off the game, and he rode home on Cade Martin's 15th home run of the season to put Trevecca on top 2-0 just two batters into the contest. Noah Boughton followed with a solo shot as the Trojans went back-to-back, and after a single from Drew Bradley, Caleb Webster leaned on the first pitch he saw and belted another two-run homer to center field. One out later, Cade Moore joined the party with a solo blast, and Isaac Whitaker capped the inning when he scored on a wild pitch to put Trevecca up a touchdown before Spencer Wilkins even stepped foot on the field. Trevecca sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning, and they notched eight hits in the frame.
UWA answered with four runs in the bottom of the second, but Wilkins escaped without further damage, and a bases loaded free pass to Webster in the third pushed the Trojans' lead back to four.
The 8-4 score held into the top of the sixth frame when Jaxson Christ joined the homer barrage. A single and a walk to Bradley and Webster brought Christ to the plate with two on and none out. Christ checked out to right field with a three-run homer, and suddenly, Trevecca's lead was back to seven.
Kaiden Jones homered for UWA in the bottom of the sixth to cut the margin to 11-6, but freshman Rylan Moses capped the day with a multi-homer effort, as he hit solo round-trippers in the seventh and ninth frames. Moses now has three homers in the GSC Championship. UWA got one final solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, but it proved to be their lone run in the frame, as the Trojans took the win 13-7.
QUOTABLE
Rylan Moses (courtesy of GSC Postgame Interview on FloCollege)
What were the Trojans doing at the plate that allowed them to have such a big game at the plate…
"Just having a good eye up there. Not trying to do too much. Let it get deep, and use the whole field and it worked out pretty well."
On the game as a whole…
"It was a huge game, and we knew it was going to be tough going into it. … Getting that first big inning just helped us a lot. [It] got us the momentum, and we just kept it going."
On what the Trojans can take away from the first two games that they can take with them into the rest of the tournament…
"Yesterday and Today [were] huge. We have a lot of momentum going into it. We're ready for tomorrow. Just [need to] keep things simple and keep it light in the dugout."
Head Coach Chase Sain
On the power surge from the Trojans…
"We knew the wind was blowing out, and we have guys that can hit it. Our hitters stayed disciplined, swung at good pitches and drove the ball. We hit seven home runs, and five of those were no-doubt, true home runs regardless of the conditions."
On the effort of Spencer Wilkins on the mound for Trevecca…
"Spencer gave us a strong start. He had the one four-run inning, but settled in well after that. He worked down in the zone, and when he does that, he's effective. To get six innings against that lineup was important for us."
On Sunday's Opponent, the West Florida Argonauts…
"Against West Florida, we feel good about putting Jonah Smithson on the mound. We had a strong series against them earlier this year, but that doesn't carry over. They're a quality team and will take advantage if you give them anything. Our focus is on playing clean, consistent postseason baseball and continuing to advance."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
* Rylan Moses - 4-for-6, 2 HR(5,6), 3 R, 2 RBI
* Cade Martin - 2-for-4, HR(15), 2 R, 2 RBI
* Noah Boughton - 3-for-6, HR(4), R, RBI
* Drew Bradley - 3-for-5, BB, 2 R
* Caleb Webster - 1-for-3, HR(8), 3 BB, 2 R, 3 RBI
* Jaxson Christ - 3-for-5, HR(3), R, 3 RBI
* Cade Moore - 1-for-4, HR(5), R, RBI
* Landon Rogers - 1-for-5, R
* Isaac Whitaker - 1-for-5
* Judson Ceyanes - 1-for-1
WP: Spencer Wilkins (6-2) - 6.0 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 6 SO
LP: Baker Green (4-4) - 0.1 IP, 7 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 0 SO
NEXT ON THE DIAMOND
The win means that the Trojans will advance to Sunday to take on the West Florida Argonauts (36-13) at 2:30 p.m. Both teams will advance to Monday's play regardless of Sunday's outcome.
MORE ABOUT THE TREVECCA TROJANS
Visit the Official Home of Trevecca Athletics at www.tnutrojans.com | www.trevecca.edu
Trojan Sideline Store | Watch Trojans Live on Flo College
Follow on Social Media - Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Free Newsletter
-- www.tnutrojans.com --
#PurpleReigns #DefendTheHill
