By Brandon Burke, UT Martin Sports Information Intern
MARTIN, Tenn. – In a mirror result from the previous evening’s series opener in terms of final margin, the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad continued their visiting escapades against the Racers of Murray State on Friday, taking a 4-2 loss despite one score each in the 7th and 8th innings. Totaling seven hits and three more walks in the league matchup, the Skyhawks would ultimately strand 10 base-runners in another low-scoring output from both sides as was the outcome 24 hours earlier.
Shortstop Casey Harford and first-baseman Ethan Whitley recorded one double each in the short road trip, increasing the team’s extra-base hit tally to 75 on the season. Leadoff centerfielder Will Smith bumped up his 2022 quantity to 29 hits with two more to lead all Skyhawks for the contest, while Alec Beaman and Wil LaFollette accounted for both of UTM’s RBI on a sacrifice fly and ground-ball, respectively.
Jack Culumovic, Cameron Brady, and Nate Self rounded out the rest of UT Martin’s seven connections in the two-run final, where they now sit at 8-23 overall. Harford and Brady were the two who found home plate off the swings by Beaman and LaFollette, giving the duo 24 scores since February. Junior Matt Dickey took the start in Game 2 at the pitching position, followed by six innings of relief from Tucker Reed, Trey Ricko, and Baylor Jones.
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad wrapped up their Ohio Valley Conference three-game series on the road against the Murray State Racers on Saturday afternoon, tying up with their close rival in the hits department with seven each in an 8-1 decision that drifted towards the home side.
Sitting at the halfway point of league action with four conference series behind them, the Skyhawks will return to the Volunteer State for their next four dates beginning on Wednesday against non-conference foe Christian Brothers.
Today’s Game 3 – slated to conclude a day early due to the incoming Easter holiday – saw UTM reach their lone score in the top of the 8th frame on an RBI-single from rightfielder Wil LaFollette that scored senior first-baseman Ethan Whitley. The aforementioned swing (one of two hits on the day for LaFollette) stands as the 15th run batted in by the sophomore and the ninth time this year that Whitley has found home plate after getting on base.
Left-handed pitcher Jacob Smith scooped up his sixth start of 2022 in the finale against the Racers, striking out five batters in well over four innings of work, only allowing a single hit in 20 opponents faced while eclipsing the 100-pitch mark. Returning to the bullpen for the first time since March 5th on an injury break, sophomore Lawson Russell was called on for relief near the end of the 5th frame where he promptly avoided giving up any MSU runs despite entering with all three bases occupied.
Blake Davis and Baylor Jones hurled the final two innings on Saturday as the Skyhawks racked up 18 hits over the past 72 hours. LaFollette, Whitley, Nate Self, Alec Beaman, Chance Merithew, and pinch-hitter Blaze Bell accounted for all seven of UTM’s connections at-bat, mirroring the same level of production in that category from the prior evening.
With the team’s short visit to Murray in the rearview, UT Martin heads back to Skyhawk Field in four days for their first post-Easter matchup in a quick OVC detour against the Pirates of Christian Brothers. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m., streamed live via ESPN+.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information