By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team narrowly fell by scores of 4-1 and 6-4 today in the series-opening doubleheader against Samford at JL Griffin Field.
Will Smith, Blaze Bell and Caleb Hobson each had two hits on the day while Nate Self homered in Game 1 for the Skyhawks (5-15). Andrew Fernandez drove in a pair of runs at the plate as nine different UT Martin hitters combined for 12 hits in 14 innings this afternoon.
On the mound, J. Henry Hobson (1-2) and Eric Steensma each did not concede an earned run in relief appearances in Game 2, which was started by Jordan Armstrong (no-decision after tossing five innings with six hits allowed). Seth Petry (1-2) went the distance in the series opener, conceding six hits over six innings.
The Skyhawks and Bulldogs will wrap up their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Game 1
Self’s round tripper extended his hitting streak to eight games and Petry was solid throughout but Samford came out on top in a pitcher’s duel that lasted a brisk 83 minutes.
Petry breezed through the first two innings, retiring the side in order on 12 pitches in the bottom of the first before getting through the second on 13 pitches. The senior right-hander did not allow his first hit until the third inning as the Bulldogs scored three runs in that frame.
UT Martin’s offense appeared to have something cooking in the top of the fourth after Smith drew a one-out walk and Bell singled to center to put baserunners on the corners. However, Samford got out of the inning with its 3-0 lead intact.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs scored once more to extend their lead out to 4-0.
The Skyhawks got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth as Self cranked the first pitch he saw for a solo homer out to left center, his second longball of the 2023 campaign.
Petry kept the game close with a pair of scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth, retiring each of the final seven batters he faced.
Jack Culumovic singled up the middle with one out in the top of the seventh as a potential UT Martin rally loomed but Samford recovered to claim the frontend of the doubleheader.
Game 2
The Skyhawks led 4-0 and were four outs away from a split on the day but three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth led to a 6-4 setback.
Armstrong posted zeroes on the scoreboard for the first four innings as the UT Martin infield turned a pair of double plays behind him. The McDonough, Ga. native allowed just one hit through the first four frames, allowing the Skyhawks to take their first lead of the day.
UT Martin manufactured its first run in the top of the fourth. Smith reached on a two-out single and soon advanced 90 feet on a stolen base. Bell then lined a clutch opposite-field RBI single to break the scoreless tie.
In the top of the fifth, the Skyhawks sent eight batters to the plate – tallying three runs on four hits. Making his first start of the season, designated hitter Jonah Wichman singled up the middle on a nine-pitch at-bat to ignite the big inning. Mac Danford was then hit by a pitch and following a pitching change, UT Martin produced three consecutive two-out hits. Caleb Hobson legged out an infield single to load the bases for Fernandez, who laced a two-run single to right, extending the Skyhawk advantage out to three runs. Smith then plated Caleb Hobson with an RBI single to make the score 4-0.
The Bulldogs got three runs back in the top of the fifth. After the first two Samford hitters reached base in the sixth, UT Martin recorded outs on a sacrifice bunt and fielder’s choice (throwing out a runner trying to score). However, an error on what would have been the third out extended the inning and the next Bulldog cleared the bases with a go-ahead three-run double, giving Samford its first lead (6-4) of the ballgame.
Momentum remained on the Bulldogs’ side in the top of the seventh as the Skyhawks could not bring the tying run to the dish.
A pair of University of Tennessee at Martin pitchers stood out today while the Skyhawk offense doubled up Samford in the hit column but the host Bulldogs eked out a 1-0 win in a nonconference baseball contest.
Tristan Walton (1-3) made the start today, receiving a tough-luck loss after allowing one run over three innings. Eric Steensma tossed the final five innings and did not concede a run. Overall, Samford could only muster seven baserunners for the entire contest (five hits, one walk, one hit by pitch) as UT Martin held its opponent to a season-low tally in runs scored.
Offensively, a trio of Skyhawks accounted for multi-hit days – paced by Andrew Fernandez’s three base knocks. Jonah Wichman and Hunter McLean additionally added two hits as UT Martin (5-16) combined for 10 hits but left 11 runners on base.
The Skyhawks saw two runners reach base (Fernandez on an error, Blaze Bell on a walk) in the top of the first but could not get on the scoreboard.
Walton did a great job of working out of trouble in the bottom of the first. After an error, passed ball and a walk placed a pair of runners on the basepaths with one out, the lefty recorded a strikeout and flyout on only six pitches.
Wichman and McLean led off the second with back-to-back singles to put men on the corners but the Bulldogs (10-10) were able to get out of the jam unscathed.
Walton pitched around a leadoff double in the bottom of the second to keep the game scoreless through two frames.
UT Martin had a good scoring opportunity in the third as Fernandez, Will Smith and Bell each singled with one away to load the bases. However, Samford was able to turn an inning-ending double play.
The Bulldogs scored the game’s lone run on a sacrifice fly in the third inning as Walton’s day ended with a big strikeout to strand a runner on third base.
McLean (hit by pitch) and Mac Danford (single) were both in scoring position in the fourth but the Skyhawks could not manufacture a run.
Steensma took over in the fourth and promptly retired the side in order. He followed that by stranding a runner on third in the fifth before quickly generating a 1-2-3 inning on just five pitches in the bottom of the sixth. The redshirt junior righty from Western Springs, Ill. mowed through the Samford lineup in the seventh, piling up a pair of strikeouts.
In the top of the eighth, Fernandez led things off with a single before Bell was issued a walk to put two runners aboard the basepaths with one out. However, the Bulldog defense got out of trouble with another double play.
After Steensma blanked the Samford offense for the fifth straight inning in the eighth, UT Martin fought for another good scoring chance in its final turn at the plate. McLean singled before pinch hitter Jack Culumovic drew a walk. Caleb Hobson was then hit by a pitch to load the bases but the Bulldogs once again somehow escaped to hold on for the win.
The Skyhawks head back home for a midweek outing this Tuesday, March 21 as they host Alabama A&M for a 4 p.m. matchup.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information