UT MARTIN RALLIES LATE AS THE SKYHAWKS TAKE THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON

Friday, February 14

Birmingham, Ala.

3 p.m.

UT Martin

Saint Louis

UT Martin

Saint Louis

UT MARTIN RALLIES LATE AS THE SKYHAWKS TAKE THE FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON

2/14/2020 7:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Skyhawks flew past the Billikens as they took advantage of some costly errors late in the game to score four runs in the ninth inning.

Saint Louis was forced to see the error of their ways as two errors and a wild pitch gave the University of Tennessee at Martin a chance to turn a tied ball game into a lopsided victory.

The Billikens were ruthless from the beginning of the game as UT Martin's senior starter Winston Cannon surrendered three runs in three straight innings. Cannon stopped Saint Louis from gaining any more of an advantage in the fourth, as he only saw four batters in his final inning at the mound. As the scoring for the Billikens slowed, senior outfielder Sean Dixson put the Skyhawks on the board with a solo shot to put the score at 3-1. Dixson only added to his successful day by putting another one over the fence in the sixth inning. Soon after the moon shot to centerfield, the young guns decided to make their impact known on the game. Freshman infielder Wil LaFollette was given a chance to pinch-hit, and in his first at-bat, he tripled scoring sophomore, Noah Thigpen. LaFollette finished his day by going 2 for 3 with an RBI.

With the score all tied at three, a piece the Skyhawks continued their scoring run as none other then Dixson hit a sacrifice fly to give UT Martin its first lead in the seventh inning. While the offense was alive, freshmen relief pitcher Ryan Insco came in for Cannon in the 5th inning, making his Division I debut seemed easy as he went two innings and only giving up one hit.

For the first time since the first three innings of the game, Saint Louis was able to plate another runner in the 8th to make the score even at four a piece.

UT Martin had been held scoreless in the 8th, so there was something on the horizon for this frenzy hitting bunch. However, the 9th inning wasn't brought on by the success of the offense, but more of the lack of control by the defense. Freshmen Nate Self started it all by getting walked as the leadoff runner, and after sophomore Jack Culumovic single along with a Dixson intentional walk, the bases were loaded. An error, a walk and another error scored the next three before a wild pitch finished it to make the score 8-4.

The bottom half of the ninth inning belonged to junior preseason All-American Nick Wohlbold. Wohlbold struck out two before the final score dawned 8-4 in favor of the Skyhawks.

UT Martin will face off against Saint Louis again tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the second game of the series. Slated to start for the Skyhawks is senior Sam Folks, who will faceoff against the Billikens Mark Finklenburg.

Game Notes: Six of the 10 hits for the Skyhawks came from the newcomers on the roster.....Sean Dixson led the team by going 2 for 3 with three RBIs and three runs scored...David Hussey went 1.2 innings pitched giving up only one run and striking out two batters...This is the first time in coach Ryan Jenkin's three year career that the team has won their opening game with him at the helm.