UT MARTIN BASEBALL FALLS IN A PAIR OF TOUGH DECISIONS AT BELMONT

Sunday, February 19

Nashville, Tenn.

1 p.m.

UT Martin

2-1

Belmont

1-2

UT Martin

Belmont

UT MARTIN BASEBALL FALLS IN A PAIR OF TOUGH DECISIONS AT BELMONT

2/19/2023 7:33:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PDF Boxscore (Game 1)PDF Boxscore (Game 2)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team launched a pair of homers in Game 1 and received a dominant starting pitching effort in Game 2 today but it wasn't enough as Belmont claimed both ends of the doubleheader by scores of 11-4 and 4-2.

Skyhawk senior right-hander Seth Petry was locked in throughout his start on the mound in the nightcap, tossing a perfect game through 5.1 innings. He ended his day in line for the win after a career-high seven innings, allowing only three hits and zero earned runs to go along with a career-best six strikeouts. However, the Bruins scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Murfreesboro, Tenn. native received a tough-luck no-decision.

Lefties Zach Wager (one inning, two strikeouts in Game 1) and Colin Millar (0.1 innings in Game 2) each produced scoreless appearances out of the bullpen today in their UT Martin debuts.

At the plate today, Will Smith hit .500 (3-for-6) with a home run while scoring three of the team's six runs. Jack Culumovic also hit .500 while reaching base three times in five opportunities while Zac Rice homered and drove in a pair of runs in Game 1.

The Skyhawks begin a busy five-game week on Tuesday, Feb. 21 when they make the short trip to Murray State. First pitch time from Johnny Reagan Field is scheduled for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.

Game 1
Seven different UT Martin's starters tallied a base hit but Belmont scored in four of its six innings for its first win of the season.

Making his first collegiate appearance since May 20, 2021, Eric Steensma (0-1) breezed through the first inning – recording his first out on a called punchout.

The Skyhawks struck first on the scoreboard, pushing across a run in the top of the second. Culumovic ripped an opposite-field double to left center and three pitches later came around to score on an RBI single by Slade Taylor to give UT Martin the 1-0 advantage.

Steensma dialed up two more strikeouts in the second inning but not before the Bruins scored three runs.

Andrew Fernandez (double) and Blaze Bell (walk) each reached base in the top of the third but a potential Skyhawk rally stalled.

Belmont scored three runs in the third and three runs in the fourth to go on top 9-1 but UT Martin chipped away in the top of the fifth. Smith pulverized the second pitch of the frame for a homer to left center, the ninth longball in the career of the junior from Prattville, Ala. Alec Beaman followed with a single and two batters later, Rice went yard on an 0-2 count to trim the Skyhawk deficit to 9-4.

Wager took over in the bottom of the fifth as the freshman from Columbus, Ind. calmly retired the side in order.

The Bruins added two runs in the bottom of the sixth and time ran out on UT Martin as the first outing was a seven-inning affair.

Game 2
Petry was on top of his game from the get-go, mowing down the first 16 Belmont hitters on just 57 pitches. He struck out three of the first four batters he faced and did not allow a ball out of the infield until the final out of the second frame.

The 6-1, 190-pounder didn't go to a three-ball count until the third inning, ending that frame with a called strikeout on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. Petry then induced three groundball outs in the fourth and was as sharp as ever in the fifth – extending the perfect game by needing just six pitches to retire the side.

Meanwhile, the Skyhawk offense had their chances but couldn't cash in. UT Martin placed five runners in scoring position through the first five innings but the Bruins were able to escape a jam each time.

The Skyhawks broke the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth. Smith drew a five-pitch walk and advanced to second on a throwing error from the pitcher on a failed pickoff attempt. Culumovic – who had just entered the game as a pinch-hitter – guided a two-out single to left field which easily brought in the speedy Smith and made the score 1-0 in favor of UT Martin.

Belmont tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on an unearned run as a two-out error made the score 1-all. Each of the next two batters reached base but Petry zoned in for a called strikeout on three pitches, stranding the bases loaded and keeping the game knotted at 1-1.

Both sides produced a runner in scoring position in their respective halves of the seventh. However, the Bruins managed to get out of the inning unscathed while Petry collected another called strikeout and an inning-ending flyout to cap off a remarkable outing.

Another two-out rally was in the cards for the Skyhawks in the top of the eighth. Smith singled up the middle with two away and Culumovic worked a walk to put a pair of UT Martin runners on the basepaths. Nate Self then delivered a clutch RBI single to right center that plated Smith and gave the Skyhawks the lead.

However, Belmont also had a two-out rally in store as the Bruins hit a go-ahead three-run home run with two outs in the eighth to go on top by a 4-2 margin. Unfortunately, UT Martin could not bring the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth.