By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – University of Tennessee at Martin head baseball coach Ryan Jenkins has released a stout 56-game schedule for the 2023 season as the Skyhawks will play 25 home contests this spring.
The 25 slated home games are the most for the program since 2017, highlighted by a nine-game homestand in nonconference play that is the longest for UT Martin since 2016. The Skyhawks will face five first-time opponents (Valparaiso, Kent State, Toledo, Lindenwood, Illinois) in 2023 and will play 29 games against opponents who finished with a .500 record or better last year.
Year Six of the Jenkins Era officially starts on Feb. 17 when UT Martin travels to in-state rival Belmont for a four-game series which includes a doubleheader of seven-inning games on Feb. 18. The Skyhawks then make the short drive to Murray State on Feb. 21 before returning to action the following day at Alabama as UT Martin looks to defeat the Crimson Tide for the third consecutive season.
The nine-game homestand starts with a weekend series against Valparaiso on Feb. 24-26 before Illinois-Chicago visits Skyhawk Field for the first time since 2002 on March 1. UT Martin hosts Kent State for a three-game set on March 3-5 and wraps up its lengthy home stretch with back-to-back games against Toledo (March 7-8).
A three-game road series at Central Arkansas takes place on March 10-12 before the Skyhawks host Southern Illinois on March 14. UT Martin travels to Samford for a series on March 17-19 and hosts Alabama A&M (March 21) before beginning Ohio Valley Conference play.
The 24-game OVC schedule starts on March 24-26 at Eastern Illinois while the Skyhawks complete a home-and-home series against Southern Illinois on March 28 in Carbondale.
UT Martin’s home OVC debut will take place against SIUE on March 31 through April 2. Two days later, the Skyhawks head to Austin Peay before an April 6-8 series at OVC newcomer Little Rock.
A five-game homestand is next on tap as UT Martin collides against Austin Peay on April 12. The Skyhawks host first-year OVC member Southern Indiana for a three-game set on April 14-16 and wrap up the home stretch with an April 19 matchup against Murray State.
UT Martin’s next four games are against in-state foes as it heads to Tennessee Tech on April 21-23 before a midweek contest at Memphis on April 25.
The Skyhawks will host OVC rival Morehead State for the first time since 2019 when the two sides meet up on April 28-30. No midweek games are scheduled before UT Martin opens the month of May on the road at OVC newcomer Lindenwood (May 5-7).
A return game to Alabama A&M on May 9 is next on the docket before the Skyhawks’ OVC regular season and home schedule concludes at home against Southeast Missouri on May 12-14. Granted with its bye week on the season’s final weekend for the second straight year, UT Martin travels to Illinois on May 18-20.
For the first time since 2019, the OVC Championship tournament will be held at Rent One Park in Marion, Ill. This year’s event will take place on May 24-27.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information