UTM BASEBALL STRIKES EARLY IN 7-2 WIN OVER UNION WITH LIGHTS-OUT BULLPEN HELP

Wednesday, April 17

Jackson, Tenn.

6:00 PM

UT Martin

14-22

Union

12-29

UT Martin

Union University

UTM BASEBALL STRIKES EARLY IN 7-2 WIN OVER UNION WITH LIGHTS-OUT BULLPEN HELP

4/17/2019 9:21:00 PM | Baseball

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JACKSON, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team notched a 7-2 win over local foe Union this evening.

UT Martin (14-22) was led by the play of Tyson Cox as he belted his first career homer, earned a pair of free bases and drove in a game-high two runs. The duo of Blake Daniels and Hayden Cooper paced the club in knocks as both rapped out a two hits apiece while both also tallied an RBI. The grouping of Sean Dixson, Jordan Stoner, Casey Harford, Creighton Eldridge and Ethan Whitley all garnered one hit each. Rounding out the scoring column for the Skyhawks was Stoner and Harford.

Seth Petry drew the starting nod and logged 1.1 innings as he allowed the only one earned run and recorded a strikeout in his time on the bump. Jeff O'Doherty (1-1) was credited with the win as he succeeded Petry to toss a game-best 2.1 innings in the game. The Omaha, Neb. Native conceded just one hit and fanned a pair of Bulldogs. Austin Buzick, David Hussey, Marcus Eusebio and Winston Cannon all tossed a minimum of one complete inning of relief work while Union only mustered two hits and a walk in the 4.1 innings that the aforementioned players twirled. Jonah Brody and Trey Ricko tag-teamed to finish things off as neither arm allowed a hit nor a free base and sprinkled in a strikeout in that span.

Dixson got the Skyhawks started with a leadoff single to center to open the contest. Daniels then tallied a knock to right field put runners at the corners in time for a Stoner two-bagger down the left field line to plate Dixson and put a pair of men in scoring position. Both runners would move up on a wild pitch as Daniels scooted home and Stoner shifted to third base. A Harford base hit to left would be good enough to bring in Stoner, capping off a three-run frame and putting UT Martin up by an early 3-0 margin.

Union scored one run in the home half of the first to make the score 3-1.

UT Martin put up a pair of runs in the second as Cooper led the frame off with a double to center field. Just then Cox issued a two-run long ball to push the Skyhawk lead out to 5-1.

The Bulldogs pushed one run across the plate to inch back by a score of 5-2. O'Doherty entered the game after Union had dealt its blow and found himself with runners at the corners and one out on the board to induce a lineout to second for a nifty double play.

O'Doherty kept up the good work in the third as he fanned the first Bulldog of the inning. He then found a friendly groundball out before conceding a two-out single. He kept his composure though to force a popout to third base to get out of the frame.

In the fourth inning, O'Doherty recorded the first two outs via groundout and swinging strikeout, respectively. Buzick then came on to fan the next batter to hold the Union batters at bay.

Buzick chugged right along in the fifth as he needed just eight pitches to get out of the inning. He flew through the frame by forcing a groundout sandwiched in between a pair of flyouts.

Hussey entered the contest in the sixth as he worked around a leadoff single to ring up the next batter before receiving a 6-4-3 double play to cruise through the inning.

The Skyhawks put up another run in the seventh as Cox got the inning going with a five-pitch walk before moving up to second on a Dixson groundout. Daniels then beat out an infield single which also allowed Cox to come in and give UT Martin a 6-2 advantage.

In the seventh, Eusebio was called upon to take care of business. He forced a pair of quick groundouts before giving up a single followed by a four-pitch walk. Eusebio then induced a flyout to center to escape danger.

The UT Martin eighth saw the Skyhawks bring home one run as Eldridge got things started with a single to center. Whitley then roped a two-bagger to center field to put both men in scoring position. A Cooper groundout would be good enough to bring in Eldridge and make the score 7-2.

Cannon came into the contest in the eighth and breezed through the inning as he forced a pair of flyouts to right followed by a swinging strikeout.

Brody then answered the call in the ninth as he plunked the first batter he faced before forcing a flyout to left and induced a fielder's choice. With one out remaining in the contest, Ricko fanned the Bulldogs' last hope to secure the 7-2 UT Martin victory.

The Skyhawks return home to host Ohio Valley Conference opponent Austin Peay. Due to the threat of inclement weather, the series is set to begin on Friday, April 19 at 4 p.m. with a doubleheader slated for Saturday, April 20 beginning at 2 p.m.