TROY, Ala. (4-6-2008) ? The Troy Trojans (20-12) jumped out to a 6-0 first inning lead and went on to defeat Arkansas State 8-2 to earn a 3-0 Sun Belt Conference series sweep over the Indians Sunday afternoon at Riddle-Pace Field.

The Tribe now stands at 14-18 on the year and 5-10 in Sun Belt Conference play. 

Troy got RBI singles from designated hitter Daryl Otwell and catcher Beau Brooks in the first inning, but much of the damage suffered by the Tribe in the opening frame was self-inflicted.  Troy was helped along by an Indian error, four walks and a wild pitch as the Trojans sent 11 batters to the plate to put the Indians in the early six-run hole.

Indian sophomore Ryan Blackburn came on relief in the first and pitched five and two-thirds scoreless innings with just five hits before junior catcher Beau Brooks added a solo home run in the seventh to push the Trojan lead to 7-0.

Arkansas State made some noise in the seventh, getting three consecutive doubles off of Trojan reliever Drew Hull to lead off the frame.  Junior Jett Jones, senior Ryan Hudgins and junior Derrick Coleman recorded the doubles for the Tribe, with Jones coming home on Hudgins hit and Hudgins scoring on Coleman's double.  Hull retired three of the next four batters following Coleman's hit to get out of the inning, but Troy got a run back in the bottom of the frame and Trojan closer Josh Storm allowed two baserunners but no runs in the ninth to set the final at 8-2.

Senior Joel Boeschen (2-3) took the loss on the mound for ASU, surrendering six runs (four earned) in one-third of an inning.  Boeschen gave up two hits and walked four without recording a strikeout.

Senior Ryan Ellison earned the win for Troy to balance his record at 1-1 on the season.  Ellison gave up no runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.  Ellison walked the first batter he faced for his only walk of the day.

Hudgins, junior Lawson Hipps and junior Brandon Eller all had two hits on the day to lead ASU at the plate.  Hipps extended his hitting streak to 13 games while junior Derrick Coleman also picked up a hit to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. 

The Indians return to action April 9 when they travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo. to take on Southeast Missouri State in a 6:30 p.m. non-conference game.