# 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.

## Preseason
### Signing Day Recruits

| 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

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.
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

* 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)

## Schedule and results

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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Feb. 19 | Youngstown State | Riddle–Pace Field • Troy, 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Mar. 3 | at Alabama | Sewell–Thomas Stadium • Tuscaloosa, 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 Field • Hammond, 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 | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | Game Postponed | 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 Stadium • Montgomery, 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 | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Apr. 1 | at South Alabama | Eddie Stanky Field • Mobile, 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 Stadium • Birmingham, 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 Field • Birmingham, AL | W 12-4 | Gamble (2-2) | Reed (0-1) | None | | 359 | 15-16 | |
| Apr. 16 | at Georgia State | Georgia State Baseball Complex • Decatur, 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 Field • Jacksonville, 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 Stadium • Tallahassee, FL | L 2-3 | Messick (5-2) | Gainous (6-4) | Anderson (1) | ACCN+ | 1,491 | 20-20 | |
May (7–4) :
| Date | Opponent | 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 Stadium • Conway, 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 | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | 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 Park • Lafayette, 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:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the D1Baseball poll.

## Postseason
### Conference accolades

* 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:

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| Coaches' | — | —* | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | |
| Baseball America | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | |
| Collegiate Baseball^ | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | |
| NCBWA† | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | |
| D1Baseball | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | |
^ 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.