By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad put an end to one of the NCAA’s longest winning streaks this evening, chalking up a season-high 16 hits in a 9-5 triumph over Eastern Illinois to kick off the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference schedule.
In addition to hits, the Skyhawks also set season-high tallies in doubles (six), extra-base hits (eight) and total bases (27) against a Panther pitching staff that entered the series leading the OVC in ERA.
Six UT Martin batters posted multi-hit efforts, paced by Hunter McLean’s three base knocks and one run scored. Zac Rice went 2-for-3 with two RBI’s and two runs scored out of the 9-hole in the lineup while Caleb Hobson (two runs scored, one RBI), Will Smith (two RBI’s), Andrew Fernandez (one run scored) and Nate Self (one run scored) each generated two hits apiece. Jonah Wichman homered and drove in two runs for the Skyhawks, who snapped Eastern Illinois’ eight-game winning streak.
Seth Petry (2-2) received the starting nod for UT Martin and picked up the win, allowing three earned runs over five innings. That was more than enough support for Tristan Walton, who earned his first save after shoving through four innings – striking out six Panthers while conceding zero earned runs in an electric performance.
The Skyhawks (6-17, 1-0 OVC) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, crossing the plate twice in the top of the first. Hobson drew a five-pitch walk to lead off the contest and advanced to third on a Fernandez double. Smith (groundout) and Blaze Bell (sacrifice fly) drove both runners home to put UT Martin ahead, 2-0.
Eastern Illinois (12-5, 0-1 OVC) scored once in the bottom half but Petry did a good job of limiting the damage – stranding the bases loaded.
A four-run top of the second was in store for the Skyhawks. McLean roped a leadoff double before Self was issued a walk. Cameron Brady executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners up for Rice, who smoked a two-run double. Three pitches later, Rice came around to score on an RBI double off the bat of Hobson, who soon sprinted home on a wild pitch to make the score 6-1 in favor of UT Martin.
Two runs (one unearned) crossed the plate for the Panthers in the second but Wichman got one run back in the top of the third, drilling a 2-1 pitch for a towering home run beyond the right field wall for the first round tripper of his Skyhawk career.
UT Martin’s defense shined in the next two innings behind Petry. The Skyhawks turned a big double play to hold Eastern Illinois to one run in the third before a full-extension diving catch from Smith out in left field ended the inning and potentially saved two runs from scoring.
Bell came out on top of an 11-pitch at-bat to lead off the fifth, ripping a triple off the wall in left center. He then trotted home on a Wichman sacrifice fly to extend the Skyhawk advantage out to 8-4.
Petry worked scoreless frames in his final two innings, inducing three groundouts in the bottom of the fifth to wrap up his day.
UT Martin produced its final run in the top of the sixth as Rice singled through the left side to start the inning. He advanced to second on a fielder’s choice and eventually came in to score on a Smith RBI single to center, opening up a 9-4 lead for the Skyhawks.
Walton’s magnificent appearance started with a pair of strikeouts to leave the bases loaded in the sixth. The Panthers did scratch across an unearned run in the seventh but the lefty out of Clay, Ala. notched two more strikeouts in the inning, including an inning-ending punchout with a pair of runners on.
Walton needed just 12 pitches to face the minimum in a scoreless eighth and displayed wipeout stuff in the ninth, striking out the first two batters he faced. He then induced a soft lineout to retire the side in order, elevating UT Martin to the victory.
A complete team effort in the backend of today’s doubleheader lifted the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team to a series victory over Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Illinois.
The Skyhawks fell 10-4 in the first game this afternoon but bounced back strong for a 12-4 triumph to clinch the 2-1 series win over the Panthers (13-6, 1-2 OVC), who entered the weekend tied for the most road victories in the NCAA Division I ranks and the best RPI (51) in the OVC.
UT Martin (7-18, 2-1 OVC) scored four runs in the top of the ninth in Game 1 today and carried that momentum into the second contest, overcoming a 4-2 deficit by chalking up 10 unanswered runs to close out the victory. Hunter McLean provided the big blast with a go-ahead, two-out grand slam in the top of the fifth and the Skyhawks never relinquished the lead from that point forward.
The UT Martin pitching staff also excelled in Game 2, allowing each of its four hits in the fourth inning alone. Eric Steensma (1-1) and J. Henry Hobson (first career save) combined for nine strikeouts in seven innings, conceding just seven baserunners for the entire game.
Offensively, Andrew Fernandez had four hits (including a home run), four RBI’s and three runs scored on the day while Caleb Hobson tallied three hits, three RBI’s and two runs scored.
To further the all-around theme, the Skyhawks also flashed the leather on many occasions in the series finale and did not commit an error.
UT Martin goes back on the road this Tuesday, March 28, completing a home-and-home series against Southern Illinois. First pitch from Carbondale, Ill. is set for 6 p.m.
Game 1
The Skyhawks dialed up 10 hits in the opening game of the doubleheader but could not solve Panther starting pitcher Ky Hampton, who improved to 4-0 on the season after going seven strong innings.
Eastern Illinois scored one run in the first inning but UT Martin starting pitcher Jordan Armstrong (1-3) settled in to retire six straight Panther batters. Eastern Illinois scored three runs (one unearned) in the third and one run in the fourth but the Skyhawk defense turned inning-ending double plays in both frames to minimize the momentum.
Benny DeTrude and Jonah Wichman each accounted for doubles in the third and fourth innings, respectively, but UT Martin could not capitalize on the scoring opportunities.
Armstrong tossed a scoreless fifth in his final inning of work. The Panthers scored three runs in the sixth before Tucker Reed came on and threw two shutout frames out of the Skyhawk bullpen, not allowing a hit in the process.
Eastern Illinois posted two runs in the bottom of the eighth to wrap up its Game 1 scoring.
The UT Martin bats came alive in the top of the ninth. McLean led off with a single before Nate Self stroked a double down the left field line. Two more outs followed before Caleb Hobson drove a two-run triple down the left field line. Fernandez then launched the fourth pitch he saw for a long home run out to right center to trim the Skyhawk deficit to 10-4. However, UT Martin’s deficit was too large to overcome as the Panthers forced a winner-take-all rubber game.
Game 2
McLean was one of many heroes in the nightcap as his round-tripper rejuvenated the Skyhawks while J. Henry Hobson retired all nine batters he faced on just 33 pitches (24 strikes).
Steensma was on point early, not allowing his first hit until one out was recorded in the bottom of the fourth inning. He was staked to a 2-0 advantage and allowed just two balls out of the infield over the first three frames.
UT Martin took advantage of Panther miscues in the top of the second as Blaze Bell and Wichman scored following a pair of Eastern Illinois errors and a wild pitch.
The Skyhawks carried that 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth but the Panthers managed four runs in the inning. Steensma stranded two baserunners with back-to-back strikeouts to close out the frame.
UT Martin immediately responded by busting the game open in the fifth. The first four Skyhawks reached base safely as Zac Rice and Caleb Hobson drew back-to-back walks before a Fernandez RBI single. Will Smith then drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. The next two batters were retired before McLean jumped all over an 0-1 pitch and deposited it well beyond the left-field wall for a no-doubt grand slam, tilting the score in favor of UT Martin at 7-4.
- Henry Hobson’s first inning was a quick one as he retired the side on just seven pitches in the fifth.
Three more Skyhawk runs were added to the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. Rice was issued a one-out walk and immediately took off for his eighth stolen base of the season. Caleb Hobson then singled up the middle for an RBI to double up the Panthers on the scoreboard at 8-4. Fernandez later followed with a single to set up Smith, who turned on a 3-1 offering for a two-run home run – pushing the UT Martin lead out to 10-4.
- Henry Hobson once again made short work of Eastern Illinois in the sixth and the Skyhawks managed two more runs in the top of the seventh. Cameron Brady singled through the left side with one away and was followed by Rice’s third free pass of the game. Fernandez stayed hot with a double that brought in two runs thanks to another Panther error.
The bottom of the seventh was as drama-free as it gets as J. Henry Hobson remained very sharp. He threw eight pitches – all for strikes – and whiffed the final two batters on six total pitches to seal the series victory.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information