Written by Chris O’Dell
Senior pitcher Troy Keith tossed his first career shutout in a Harding uniform Saturday to give the Bisons a 5-0 victory over Alabama-Huntsville. The fourth-year starter also did something no Bison pitcher has accomplished in nearly six years: he pitched a no-hitter.
“I had a couple of rough starts to begin the year, but this helped start my year off the way I wanted to start it,” Keith said.
The native of Magnolia, Ark., pitched the sixth no-hitter in school history. The masterful game by Keith made him the first Bison to complete a no-hitter since the Bisons threw two in the 2004 season.
“I felt comfortable out there on the mound,” Keith said. “After every pitch I threw I wanted the ball back as quick as possible. I had momentum on my side.”
The senior pitcher allowed just three walks while striking out three batters en route to his first win of the season. Throughout the game, only one opposing batter advanced past first base. Head baseball coach Dr. Patrick McGaha said that he would put Keith up with any pitcher in the Gulf South Conference.
“We’ve known all along that Troy has got as good of stuff as anybody in the conference,” McGaha said.
The dominant performance by Keith was completed with just 90 total pitches. Fifty of Keith’s pitches went for strikes. The senior pitcher said there was never any doubt he would finish the entire ballgame.
“When someone has a no-hitter going coach isn’t going to take him out,” Keith said. “If I had given up a run in the last inning, it might be different.”
Keith said the home-field advantage played a big role in going all seven innings without surrendering a single hit.
“I feel so much more comfortable on our mound,” Keith said. “We practice there all the time, and we all know the field really well.”
The game was a much-needed win for the Bisons, who enter the weekend with a 2-8 record overall. Harding dropped the first four games of the season to Abilene Christian University, where Keith made his first start of the season. During the season opening start, Keith pitched 3.2 innings while giving up eight runs (five earned) on eight hits.
“We haven’t really been clicking on all cylinders yet this year,” Keith said. “One game we will pitch good but play poor defense. The next game we will play good defense but pitch bad. We haven’t had many games where we are all on the same page.”
However, Keith and his teammates found a way to put it together Saturday against the Chargers. During Keith’s no-hitter, the Bison defense finished the game with no errors to help Keith secure the no-hit shutout.
“I always keep up with the number of hits I’ve given up during a game,” Keith said. “During the fourth inning I realized I had a chance at the no-hitter.”
Although many fans in attendance and probably every one of Keith’s teammates knew about the no-hitter late in the game, Keith said his teammates didn’t say a single word about the elusive feat.
“No one said anything to me about it,” Keith said. “It’s kind of an unwritten rule of baseball when someone has a no-hitter going.”
Freshman Erin McCarver was behind the plate to catch the game for Keith. Despite being in his first season as a Bison, McCarver has formed a connection with his senior pitcher.
“He has stepped up a lot this season,” Keith said. “He knows the game I like to pitch. I probably only shook him off five times during the entire game.”
With the connection between McCarver and Keith and the experience of a senior pitcher, McGaha said he doesn’t have to worry about Keith’s pitch selection.
“We’ve given Troy the freedom to call his own game,” McGaha said. “But Erin did a lot of that too. As a freshman, that shows some definite savviness behind the plate.”
After the performance of Keith and his young catcher last week, Keith said he has been anxious for his next start.
“I’ve been ready to play this weekend,” Keith said. “Now I know I can throw a no-hitter. I’m going to get out there and try to pitch two in a row now.”
Keith will make his next start Saturday against Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn.
