Thursday, March 11
Martin, Tenn.
5 p.m.
UT Martin
vs
Belmont
Photo by: UT Martin University Relations
UT MARTIN BASEBALL STARTS OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAY THIS WEEKEND AT HOME AGAINST BELMONT; SERIES SCHEDULE ALTERED
3/10/2021 1:16:00 PM | Baseball
MARTIN, Tenn. – After 10 consecutive road games to start the 2021 campaign, the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad will play in front of the home crowd for the first time this weekend when it hosts Ohio Valley Conference foe Belmont. With steady rain projected in the forecast, the series schedule has been changed to a single game on Thursday, March 11 at 5 p.m., followed by a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, March 12.
The Skyhawks (4-6) enter league play boasting one of the league's most explosive offenses, topping the OVC in home runs (12) and slugging percentage (.424) while ranking second in batting average (.261), runs scored (65) and runs batted in (59).
Christian Hall and Houston Wright are slugging at a .600 clip or above, sharing the OVC lead with three home runs apiece. Hall (14) and Casey Harford (12) rank second and third, respectively, in the league in RBI's. True freshman Will Smith has been an on-base machine in the UT Martin lineup, ranking fourth in the OVC with eight walks while going a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases. The Skyhawks have also received a recent lift out of Blake Daniels as the redshirt junior third baseman from Marked Tree, Ark. is hitting .438 (7-for-16) over the last four outings.
On the hill, UT Martin has averaged nearly a strikeout per inning (77 in 80 frames) and have conceded eight or less hits in seven of its 10 contests. The Skyhawk hurlers are coming off their best game of the season – allowing only one run on three hits with 14 strikeouts (against just one walk) in a 5-1 triumph at North Alabama last night.
Winston Cannon (1-2, 6.43 ERA) will get the starting nod tomorrow for UT Martin as the senior right-hander ranks seventh in the OVC with 14 innings pitched. He has fanned 14 batters over 15 career innings against the Bruins. Out of the bullpen, Nick Wohlbold's six appearances rank fourth in the league while Ryan Insco (one save, .179 opponent batting average in eight innings), David Hussey (3.18 ERA in four appearances) and Matthew Shunk (0.00 ERA in four appearances) have also been trusted options early this spring.
Both Harford and Sam Folks have found success in their careers against Belmont. Harford has hit .333 (8-for-24) with four runs scored and four RBI's – including a 4-for-4 effort on March 17, 2019. Folks also shined against the Bruins in 2019 (7.1 innings, three hits, no earned runs) but received a no-decision.
Belmont (3-5) was selected as the OVC's preseason favorites after going 14-3 during the abbreviated 2020 season. This season, the Bruins lead the OVC with a .231 opponent batting average and rank right behind the Skyhawks in team slugging percentage (.412). Belmont has announced junior right-hander Logan Bowen (1-1, 14.73 ERA) as its probable starting pitcher for Thursday. Sophomore righty Joshua South (1-0, 2.08) was named the OVC Preseason Pitcher of the Year and will start in Game 2, to be followed by freshman southpaw Andy Bean (0-0, 5.00) in the series finale. Kyle Brennan was also a Preseason All-OVC honoree as the closer ranks second in the OVC with a pair of saves.
Live stats will be available for all three games this weekend - those links can be found at the top of the webpage.
The Skyhawks (4-6) enter league play boasting one of the league's most explosive offenses, topping the OVC in home runs (12) and slugging percentage (.424) while ranking second in batting average (.261), runs scored (65) and runs batted in (59).
Christian Hall and Houston Wright are slugging at a .600 clip or above, sharing the OVC lead with three home runs apiece. Hall (14) and Casey Harford (12) rank second and third, respectively, in the league in RBI's. True freshman Will Smith has been an on-base machine in the UT Martin lineup, ranking fourth in the OVC with eight walks while going a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases. The Skyhawks have also received a recent lift out of Blake Daniels as the redshirt junior third baseman from Marked Tree, Ark. is hitting .438 (7-for-16) over the last four outings.
On the hill, UT Martin has averaged nearly a strikeout per inning (77 in 80 frames) and have conceded eight or less hits in seven of its 10 contests. The Skyhawk hurlers are coming off their best game of the season – allowing only one run on three hits with 14 strikeouts (against just one walk) in a 5-1 triumph at North Alabama last night.
Winston Cannon (1-2, 6.43 ERA) will get the starting nod tomorrow for UT Martin as the senior right-hander ranks seventh in the OVC with 14 innings pitched. He has fanned 14 batters over 15 career innings against the Bruins. Out of the bullpen, Nick Wohlbold's six appearances rank fourth in the league while Ryan Insco (one save, .179 opponent batting average in eight innings), David Hussey (3.18 ERA in four appearances) and Matthew Shunk (0.00 ERA in four appearances) have also been trusted options early this spring.
Both Harford and Sam Folks have found success in their careers against Belmont. Harford has hit .333 (8-for-24) with four runs scored and four RBI's – including a 4-for-4 effort on March 17, 2019. Folks also shined against the Bruins in 2019 (7.1 innings, three hits, no earned runs) but received a no-decision.
Belmont (3-5) was selected as the OVC's preseason favorites after going 14-3 during the abbreviated 2020 season. This season, the Bruins lead the OVC with a .231 opponent batting average and rank right behind the Skyhawks in team slugging percentage (.412). Belmont has announced junior right-hander Logan Bowen (1-1, 14.73 ERA) as its probable starting pitcher for Thursday. Sophomore righty Joshua South (1-0, 2.08) was named the OVC Preseason Pitcher of the Year and will start in Game 2, to be followed by freshman southpaw Andy Bean (0-0, 5.00) in the series finale. Kyle Brennan was also a Preseason All-OVC honoree as the closer ranks second in the OVC with a pair of saves.
Live stats will be available for all three games this weekend - those links can be found at the top of the webpage.
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