By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Sam Folks, a senior lefty on the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team, was named Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week this morning.
With today’s announcement, Folks becomes only the third Skyhawk to be win the OVC Pitcher of the Week accolade twice in a single season – joining Coty Green (2010) and Dalton Westfall (2017).
Folks, who also won the award on April 5, wrapped up his UT Martin career on a high note. He pitched in both Skyhawk victories last week and did not allow an extra-base hit over nine innings of work, going 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA.
The Franklin, Tenn. native twirled two scoreless frames out of the bullpen in UT Martin’s victory over No. 11 Ole Miss on May 18, limiting the damage after entering the game with the bases loaded and no outs.
Three days later, Folks made the start in the backend of the doubleheader at Southeast Missouri and earned the victory. He struck out a season-best eight batters (against just one walk) while allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings against the OVC regular season champion.
Folks finishes the 2021 regular season ranking in the top-six in the OVC in called strikeouts (26, second), games started (13, fourth), innings pitched (77.1, fifth), strikeouts (77, sixth) and least home runs allowed (6, sixth). He was an integral member of the Skyhawk pitching staff who set a school record for lowest single-season ERA (5.24) in the school’s Division-I Era (since 1992).
For his career, Folks ranks third in UT Martin history in games started (45), fourth in strikeouts (223), fifth in innings pitched (274.1) and ninth in appearances (66).
Graphic Courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information