SKYHAWKS WRAP UP THE SEMO SERIES WITH A WALK OFF VICTORY

Sunday, March 8

Martin, Tenn.

1 p.m.

UT Martin

5-10, 0

Southeast Missouri

9-7, 0

Southeast Missouri

UT Martin

SKYHAWKS WRAP UP THE SEMO SERIES WITH A WALK OFF VICTORY

3/8/2020 5:29:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF

MARTIN, Tenn. - In a game with plenty of fireworks, UT Martin took the cake with a walk-off single to complete the ninth-inning rally.

From top to bottom, this game showcased two explosive offenses that wouldn't quit. That was made clear as freshmen Wil LaFollette singled in the game-tying and winning run in the ninth to cap off a four-run inning. The rally all began with a simple single from Davis; from there, the momentum swung towards UTM. After a few batters reached sophomore Jack Culumovic gave UTM the scoring fever as he doubled to centerfield to score freshman Thomas Fullerton. Freshman Christian Hall then joined in with a sacrifice fly to center field, and suddenly the score was 13-12. Just three batters later, all it took was one swing of a bat as junior Houston Wright and Culumovic came into to score to give the Skyhawks the 14-13 victory.

Before a ninth-inning rally, the offensive explosion from both teams began in the first inning. Southeast Missouri came out firing by scoring the first three runs of the inning. Retaliation was the key to the game as every time the Redhawks scored, the Skyhawks answered them in some way. That was no exception in the first inning as freshman Wil LaFollette started his career day with an RBI double to right field. LaFollette finished the day with four hits and five RBIs, two of which came from a two-run home run that barely crossed the right field foul pole in the bottom of the third. Aside from LaFollette's success at the plate, junior Blake Daniels was able to get into the action in the first with a two-RBI single to knot the score at three apiece.

SEMO took back the lead in the second, but after LaFollette's two-run shot, the Skyhawks led 5-4. However, five runs from the Redhawks in the fourth made the lead theirs. Facing a 9-5 deficit in the top of the fourth only lasted for a short time, as the Skyhawks grabbed three in the bottom half of the inning. Junior Blake Davis hit a home run over the right-field wall, and junior Ethan Whitley doubled in two runs. Davis enjoyed his career day as well as he had four hits, including two home runs (fourth and seventh) as well as 3 RBIs.

Before the Skyhawks could enjoy Davis' home run, they were faced with two more runs from the Redhawks. However, after his home run in the seventh UT Martin trailed just 12-10.

For the first time, all game Southeast Missouri would go quietly in consecutive innings as senior David Hussey came into the game. The seventh, eighth and ninth, were all Hussey's as he made only one mistake giving up a solo home run in the ninth. Other then his one blemish, Hussey pitched exceptionally well, allowing one run, one hit, and striking out four.

Hussey's ability to keep the opposing offense quiet proved to be the difference-maker heading into the four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth. After the rally finished up, the final score read 14-13 with the Skyhawks taking it.

The Skyhawks end this series and go back to non-conference play for a game as they head to Conway, Arkansas, to face Central Arkansas. That game will be held on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Game Notes- It was a big day from everyone as every starter, but one had a hit... Three Skyhawks collect four hits (LaFollette, Wright, and Davis). This is the first time that this has happened this season... Ethan Whitley continued his hot hitting as he finished the series seven for 14.