COMEBACK BID FALLS JUST SHY FOR UTM IN GAME 3 VS. NORTH ALABAMA

Sunday, March 6

Florence, Ala.

12 p.m.

UT Martin

4-6

North Alabama

4-5

UT Martin

North Alabama

COMEBACK BID FALLS JUST SHY FOR UTM IN GAME 3 VS. NORTH ALABAMA

3/6/2022 4:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF BOX SCORE

FLORENCE, Ala. – Another efficient batting effort by the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team on Sunday afternoon couldn't quite grant the Skyhawks the series victory over the North Alabama Lions, taking an 8-5 setback on the road despite connecting on 11 hits, all of them singles.

The bottom of the 3^rd proved to be a mild turning point for UNA, reaching six unanswered scores once the Skyhawks found a run beforehand. Patiently chipping away at the deficit until it was down to a single score with two turns left, the Lions clinched the game with a two-RBI base hit in the 8^th that now brings the navy and orange to a 4-6 overall record.

First baseman Ethan Whitley, catcher Chance Merithew, and shortstop Alec Beaman – the latter of which has accumulated seven total hits over the past three outings – each put themselves in favorable spots on the field with six hits between them on Sunday. In fact, eight separate UTM batters found at least one hit in the tight loss.

For the third straight day, the Skyhawks were the ones to find home plate first, this time coming off the fast legs of centerfielder Benny DeTrude, beating the throw from shortstop to catcher on a ground ball to give UT Martin the early 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, UNA's impending 3^rd-inning flare put a dent in the visitors' time ahead.

Not one to go out quietly, the next four runs of the afternoon were provided by the Skyhawks that steadily put them back in it. The first half of that rally came off North Alabama mishaps with the bases juiced, allowing UTM to score on a walk and a passed ball in the 4^th and 6^th periods.

Making some more noise offensively on a two-RBI single in the top of the 7^th, DeTrude's guidance of Beaman and Wil LaFollette suddenly put the pressure back on the Lions, who came dangerously close to surrendering what was at one time a five-run cushion.

That comeback try ultimately fell just shy of completion though, as the Skyhawks weren't able to spice up any more runs over the final two frames. UNA's two-run hit in the bottom of the 8^th sealed the final decision, concluding UT Martin's seven-game stint across the state of Alabama with a 3-4 mark against those opponents.

Going for his first start of the 2022 season at the pitching spot, junior right-hander Seth Petry ended up taking the loss after three innings of work, relieved by Matt Dickey, Baylor Jones, Trey Ricko, and Blake Davis for a total of six strikeouts in 40 batters faced.

Bumping up their season-hit total to 75 after 20 in the past 48 hours, the Skyhawks will look to regroup back at home for their next appearance two days from now. The Illinois State Redbirds will visit Martin for a 5:00 p.m. start time to serve as the fifth different school to lock horns with UTM in the infant stages of the semester.

ISU has opened 2022 with a 5-4 record, beginning the year with a bang by knocking off then-#2 Arkansas in Fayetteville on the first day of the season. The Redbirds will face the Skyhawks off the heels of a 7-1 triumph over Arkansas State on Saturday, salvaging a three-game set with the Red Wolves after dropping the first two meetings.