SKYHAWKS GRAB 13 RUNS IN SATURDAY SPLIT VS. WESTERN CAROLINA

Saturday, March 19

Cullowhee, NC

1 p.m.

UT Martin

7-9

Western Carolina

8-10

UT Martin

Western Carolina

SKYHAWKS GRAB 13 RUNS IN SATURDAY SPLIT VS. WESTERN CAROLINA

3/19/2022 9:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PDF BOX SCORE - Game 1 PDF BOX SCORE - Game 2

CULLOWHEE, N.C. – A litany of noteworthy offensive performances guided the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team to a doubleheader split against the Western Carolina Catamounts on Saturday afternoon, reaching a 6-2 victory in the two sides' first-ever meeting to get the day started before a high-scoring 11-7 decision in the other way across the weekend nightcap.

Occupying the rightfield position for the day, sophomore Wil LaFollette seemed to be the most productive hitter in a competitive field for that moniker, reaching three RBI on four hits and two runs. The reigning all-conference member drilled his third home run of the season in Saturday's curtain-jerker (before Houston Wright bombed his own in the next inning), landing a double in Game 2 to boot.

Elsewhere, the trio of Wright, Alec Beaman, and Casey Harford ended the day with six hits, seven runs, and three RBI between them. Altogether, the Skyhawks collected seven extra-base swings in the two-parter while boosting their total home run count to 16.

Moving to a 7-10 record after splitting the DH, UTM prepares for tomorrow afternoon's third round with the Catamounts, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Game 1 – UT Martin def. Western Carolina 6-2

Following up his complete-game shutout gem against Central Arkansas one week back with an equally-impressive showing on the mound for his fourth consecutive individual win, sophomore righty Rhett Fetner slung over 100 pitches in the Game 1 triumph to the tune of five strikeouts and only two hits allowed.

The defending Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week, Fetner's dynamic performance helped UT Martin amass its second straight win on only four runs given up put together. Baylor Jones and closer Blake Davis ensured no WCU shenanigans down the stretch as the Skyhawks took the lead in the fourth at-bat and never looked back.

With Harford already on 2^nd base, LaFollette's 18^th career homer in the first frame put the visitors ahead by a deuce. After Western Carolina responded with a single score later that same inning, the next four runs would belong to the navy and orange to signal the end of the bout, with Wright's 2^nd-inning shot continuing the good fortunes.

As Fetner and Jones kept the Catamounts quiet – holding WCU to zero hits in four of the next five innings – a two-run spurt from the Skyhawks hoisted the lead to 5-1 in the 7^th on a two-RBI double by catcher Chance Merithew, the redshirt-freshman's first two runs batted in of the semester.

Another run-scoring double in the top of the 9^th (this one by second-baseman Beaman) put the finishing touches on the four-score victory, while Davis struck out a pair of batters in the final stanza to preserve the W.

Game 2 – Western Carolina def. UT Martin 11-7

The Catamounts wouldn't do themselves any favors throughout the first half of Saturday's second act, gifting the Skyhawks four straight runs with the bases juiced on a pair of walks, an HBP, and a wild pitch. From there, the game took on a seesaw nature with WCU escaping intact at the end.

The 5^th and 9^th innings would see UTM boost their offensive production on a five-hit outing, the former on an RBI-ground out that brought Harford home and the latter two off the bat of LaFollette and Jack Culumovic in the team's final turn at the plate.

Junior Matt Dickey tossed the first three frames as the Game 2 starter, relieved by Seth Petry, Tucker Reed, and Warren Lee. That quartet gathered 10 strikeouts as a unit to bring UT Martin's 2022 tally to 132 K's.

With the three-game set now even at one game apiece, the Skyhawks will look to take the rubber match tomorrow afternoon before journeying back home where they'll play the next four. Sunday's finale against the Catamounts and next Tuesday's battle versus Alabama A&M will mark the last two dates on the schedule before OVC competition gets underway, hosting Eastern Illinois near the end of the month.