By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – With the 2023 collegiate baseball season just eight days away, the Ohio Valley Conference spotlighted University of Tennessee at Martin pitcher Eric Steensma as a Preseason All-OVC honoree this afternoon.
A Western Springs, Ill. native, Steensma is one of only four starting pitchers on the Preseason All-OVC squad, which consists of 16 players overall. The redshirt junior is the first Skyhawk starting pitcher to ever be named to the Preseason All-OVC list (which began in 2007) and is just the third UT Martin hurler to earn a spot on the league’s preseason team, joining relievers Nick Wohlbold in 2020 and Patrick Bernard in 2016.
Steensma missed the entire 2022 season due to an injury but projects to be one of the Skyhawks’ weekend starters this spring. The 6-3, 200-pound right-hander was one of the team’s most reliable hurlers in 2021, making 18 appearances that included six starts. He topped the team in fewest walks per nine innings (2.21) while posting a 4.87 ERA with 40 strikeouts and 39 hits allowed over 40.2 frames, holding the opposition to a .245 batting average.
In two seasons on the hill at UT Martin, Steensma has made 22 appearances with nine starts. He has fanned 45 batters against just 14 walks over 48.1 innings. He has claimed a pair of victories, winning at No. 11 Ole Miss on May 18, 2021 and earning the victory in his collegiate debut against Alabama A&M on Feb. 19, 2020.
The Skyhawks start the 2023 campaign with a four-game series at in-state rival Belmont on Feb. 17-19.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information