UT MARTIN BASEBALL DROPS GAME 3 AT MURRAY STATE

Saturday, April 16

Murray, Ky.

1 p.m.

UT Martin

8-24, 1-11

Murray State

18-16, 4-8

UT Martin

Murray State

UT MARTIN BASEBALL DROPS GAME 3 AT MURRAY STATE

4/16/2022 7:48:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score PDF BOX SCORE

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad wrapped up their Ohio Valley Conference three-game series on the road against the Murray State Racers on Saturday afternoon, tying up with their close rival in the hits department with seven each in an 8-1 decision that drifted towards the home side.

Sitting at the halfway point of league action with four conference series behind them, the Skyhawks will return to the Volunteer State for their next four dates beginning on Wednesday against non-conference foe Christian Brothers.

Today's Game 3 – slated to conclude a day early due to the incoming Easter holiday – saw UTM reach their lone score in the top of the 8^th frame on an RBI-single from rightfielder Wil LaFollette that scored senior first-baseman Ethan Whitley. The aforementioned swing (one of two hits on the day for LaFollette) stands as the 15^th run batted in by the sophomore and the ninth time this year that Whitley has found home plate after getting on base.

Left-handed pitcher Jacob Smith scooped up his sixth start of 2022 in the finale against the Racers, striking out five batters in well over four innings of work, only allowing a single hit in 20 opponents faced while eclipsing the 100-pitch mark. Returning to the bullpen for the first time since March 5^th on an injury break, sophomore Lawson Russell was called on for relief near the end of the 5^th frame where he promptly avoided giving up any MSU runs despite entering with all three bases occupied.

Blake Davis and Baylor Jones hurled the final two innings on Saturday as the Skyhawks racked up 18 hits over the past 72 hours. LaFollette, Whitley, Nate Self, Alec Beaman, Chance Merithew, and pinch-hitter Blaze Bell accounted for all seven of UTM's connections at-bat, mirroring the same level of production in that category from the prior evening.

With the team's short visit to Murray in the rearview, UT Martin heads back to Skyhawk Field in four days for their first post-Easter matchup in a quick OVC detour against the Buccaneers of Christian Brothers. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m., streamed live via ESPN+.