Super Bowl Update

Troy is back in action this weekend with a road series at Florida International. It's a matchup of the two teams predicted to be at the top of the Sun Belt, but it hasn't worked out that way through the first three weeks of conference play.

Troy is 13-15, 3-6 in Sun Belt play, and this is the Trojans' third road series of the Sun Belt season. FIU is 16-13, 4-5. Friday's game is at 6 p.m. (CST), Saturday is 5 p.m. and Sunday at noon.

"We just continue to have a hard time putting together back to back (quality) games," Troy head coach Bobby Pierce said. "We've had some bright spots here and there. We're definitely due, no doubt. We're due for a solid performance."

Injuries have hampered Troy this year. Recently, senior outfielder Josh McDorman had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum on his right (non-throwing) shoulder. McDorman was hot in the fall, blasting 10 home runs, but hit .138 in nine games earlier this year.

"He hadn't been able to swing a bat for two weeks before this came to fruition," Pierce said of his surgery. "It got to the point where his shoulder would slip out of place when he'd swing and miss or have any type of extension, such as diving back to a base. It started to make sense why he didn't look the same at the plate (as he did in the fall).

The good news is that McDorman has a redshirt year and can play again in 2013. The bad news is that it's another injury to a potentially key player. Consider this group of players - McDorman, C/DH Blake Martz, 1B/DH Kyle Brown, RHP Drew Hull, LHP Shane McCain, LHP Ryan Sorce, RHP Adam Purdy - all out for the year with injuries or ineligibility (Martz).

Troy knew it wouldn't have Sorce or McCain long ago. The rest have gotten hurt either during the season or right before spring practice. The Trojans have also been without OF Clay Holcomb because of a hand injury, though he took some swings against live pitching on Wednesday. Catcher Brandon Brown missed some time with a thumb injury

"It's been a very challenging year as far as the guys we've lost for the season and the guys that are playing banged up," Pierce said. "FIU is a talented team and somewhat similar to our club in that we both think we have not played to our potential."

Pierce said Troy's pitching rotation is Tyler Ray on Friday, TBA on Saturday and TBA on Sunday. Ryan Brady and Joe Hernandez are candidates, as well as Jimmy Hodgskin. The sophomore lefty, at 1-1 with a 7.24 ERA, hasn't pitched to his capabilities this season.

"To sum it up, (he is) overthrowing," Pierce said. "He got into a good stretch late last year when he felt like he could command all three pitches and in the fall, he continued to roll with it. After three outings, we felt like he was right where he needed to be and we shut him down for the fall. In the spring, he did what he was doing last spring where we thought he'd revert to his experience."

Pierce said Hodgskin had an extended bullpen session on Wednesday to work things out.

"At this point, we decided he needed to get the work more than he needed to pitch over the weekend," Pierce said, noting Hodgskin could be ready to pitch on Sunday.

Troy is led offensively by first baseman Logan Pierce, who takes an 18-game hit streak into the weekend along with a .408 average. Tyler Hannah and Boone Shear have hit five home runs each.

Mike Martinez leads FIU, hitting .366. Pablo Bermudez, the preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year, is hitting .320. Jabari Henry leads FIU with four home runs.