SKYHAWKS LOSE THEIR FIRST SERIES AS THEY FALL IN THE RUBBER MATCH TO SAINT LOUIS

Sunday, February 16

Birmingham, Ala.

12 p.m.

UT Martin

1-2

Saint Louis

2-1

UT Martin

Saint Louis

SKYHAWKS LOSE THEIR FIRST SERIES AS THEY FALL IN THE RUBBER MATCH TO SAINT LOUIS

2/16/2020 4:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Tennessee at Martin's baseball team suffered through three unfortunate innings as they lost the third game in the series 10-3.

In what started as hopeful for the Skyhawks turned to the opposite as the Billikens scored nine of their 10 runs in three innings to out UT Martin.

It all began on the right foot as the Skyhawk batters were ready to face Saint Louis' freshmen right-hander in the series-deciding game. Sophomore leadoff hitter Jack Culumovic reached quickly in the first inning after a single; his hit would prove to be beneficial as freshmen infielder Wil LaFollette singled to center to score the runner. Fellow freshmen Christian Hall would bring him in only moments after with a double to left field. Before it was all done, the score read 2-0 following the first inning.

Similar to yesterday's results sophomore starter Seth Petry got through the first inning with ease. However, just like all of this series, the UT Martin starters got in trouble when they hit the middle of the order. A blast put the Billikens one behind the Skyhawks, but a ton more bloop hits, and a line-drive triple gave them the lead 4-2 lead in the second inning.

The scoring epidemic for Saint Louis continued as they generated three more runs in the fourth with small ball techniques. It started as senior reliever Jefferey O'Doherty put runners on first and second before an error allowed another runner and a score. Senior reliever David Hussey came into the sticky situation and escaped after two more runs had crossed the plate. Going into the fifth inning, the Skyhawks were in big trouble as they trailed 7-2.

Saint Louis added one more in the fifth to make the score an even number with a commanding 8-2 lead. UT Martin was able to muster some retaliation as junior Houston Wright hit a sacrifice fly to score LaFollette in the sixth. But one run didn't make the difference as freshmen Austin Kasick surrendered two more in the bottom half of the inning to the Billikens to make the score 10-3.

Freshman reliever Ryan Insco got the final two innings for the Skyhawks, and just like his debut performance; he dominated by pitching two scoreless innings. However, while Insco proved to be a successful weapon late in games, the Skyhawks offense couldn't come back from the deficit as UT Martin fell 10-3. Ultimately this loss gave Saint Louis the series and put the Skyhawks at 1-2 on the season.

UT Martin returns to action Wednesday as they head to Huntsville, Ala. to face off against Alabama A&M in the single-game set.

Game Notes - Christian Hall led all UT Martin hitters as he went 3 for 4 with an RBI... Wil LaFollette continues an incredible start to his career as a Skyhawk with another two-hit game. This is his second multi-hit game in his three-game career. LaFollette leads all hitters with a .556 batting average and four RBIs... Ryan Insco has pitched four scoreless innings to start his Skyhawk career.