Saturday, March 18
Birmingham, Ala.
2 p.m.
UT Martin
5-14
1
at
4
Samford
8-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
UT Martin
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
4
0
Samford
0
0
3
1
0
0
X
4
6
0
SKYHAWK BASEBALL DROPS TWO CLOSE DECISIONS IN TWINBILL AT SAMFORD
3/18/2023 9:11:00 PM | Baseball
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team narrowly fell by scores of 4-1 and 6-4 today in the series-opening doubleheader against Samford at JL Griffin Field.
Will Smith, Blaze Bell and Caleb Hobson each had two hits on the day while Nate Self homered in Game 1 for the Skyhawks (5-15). Andrew Fernandez drove in a pair of runs at the plate as nine different UT Martin hitters combined for 12 hits in 14 innings this afternoon.
On the mound, J. Henry Hobson (1-2) and Eric Steensma each did not concede an earned run in relief appearances in Game 2, which was started by Jordan Armstrong (no-decision after tossing five innings with six hits allowed). Seth Petry (1-2) went the distance in the series opener, conceding six hits over six innings.
The Skyhawks and Bulldogs will wrap up their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Game 1
Self's round tripper extended his hitting streak to eight games and Petry was solid throughout but Samford came out on top in a pitcher's duel that lasted a brisk 83 minutes.
Petry breezed through the first two innings, retiring the side in order on 12 pitches in the bottom of the first before getting through the second on 13 pitches. The senior right-hander did not allow his first hit until the third inning as the Bulldogs scored three runs in that frame.
UT Martin's offense appeared to have something cooking in the top of the fourth after Smith drew a one-out walk and Bell singled to center to put baserunners on the corners. However, Samford got out of the inning with its 3-0 lead intact.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs scored once more to extend their lead out to 4-0.
The Skyhawks got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth as Self cranked the first pitch he saw for a solo homer out to left center, his second longball of the 2023 campaign.
Petry kept the game close with a pair of scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth, retiring each of the final seven batters he faced.
Jack Culumovic singled up the middle with one out in the top of the seventh as a potential UT Martin rally loomed but Samford recovered to claim the frontend of the doubleheader.
Game 2
The Skyhawks led 4-0 and were four outs away from a split on the day but three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth led to a 6-4 setback.
Armstrong posted zeroes on the scoreboard for the first four innings as the UT Martin infield turned a pair of double plays behind him. The McDonough, Ga. native allowed just one hit through the first four frames, allowing the Skyhawks to take their first lead of the day.
UT Martin manufactured its first run in the top of the fourth. Smith reached on a two-out single and soon advanced 90 feet on a stolen base. Bell then lined a clutch opposite-field RBI single to break the scoreless tie.
In the top of the fifth, the Skyhawks sent eight batters to the plate – tallying three runs on four hits. Making his first start of the season, designated hitter Jonah Wichman singled up the middle on a nine-pitch at-bat to ignite the big inning. Mac Danford was then hit by a pitch and following a pitching change, UT Martin produced three consecutive two-out hits. Caleb Hobson legged out an infield single to load the bases for Fernandez, who laced a two-run single to right, extending the Skyhawk advantage out to three runs. Smith then plated Caleb Hobson with an RBI single to make the score 4-0.
The Bulldogs got three runs back in the top of the fifth. After the first two Samford hitters reached base in the sixth, UT Martin recorded outs on a sacrifice bunt and fielder's choice (throwing out a runner trying to score). However, an error on what would have been the third out extended the inning and the next Bulldog cleared the bases with a go-ahead three-run double, giving Samford its first lead (6-4) of the ballgame.
Momentum remained on the Bulldogs' side in the top of the seventh as the Skyhawks could not bring the tying run to the dish.
Will Smith, Blaze Bell and Caleb Hobson each had two hits on the day while Nate Self homered in Game 1 for the Skyhawks (5-15). Andrew Fernandez drove in a pair of runs at the plate as nine different UT Martin hitters combined for 12 hits in 14 innings this afternoon.
On the mound, J. Henry Hobson (1-2) and Eric Steensma each did not concede an earned run in relief appearances in Game 2, which was started by Jordan Armstrong (no-decision after tossing five innings with six hits allowed). Seth Petry (1-2) went the distance in the series opener, conceding six hits over six innings.
The Skyhawks and Bulldogs will wrap up their series tomorrow at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Game 1
Self's round tripper extended his hitting streak to eight games and Petry was solid throughout but Samford came out on top in a pitcher's duel that lasted a brisk 83 minutes.
Petry breezed through the first two innings, retiring the side in order on 12 pitches in the bottom of the first before getting through the second on 13 pitches. The senior right-hander did not allow his first hit until the third inning as the Bulldogs scored three runs in that frame.
UT Martin's offense appeared to have something cooking in the top of the fourth after Smith drew a one-out walk and Bell singled to center to put baserunners on the corners. However, Samford got out of the inning with its 3-0 lead intact.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs scored once more to extend their lead out to 4-0.
The Skyhawks got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth as Self cranked the first pitch he saw for a solo homer out to left center, his second longball of the 2023 campaign.
Petry kept the game close with a pair of scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth, retiring each of the final seven batters he faced.
Jack Culumovic singled up the middle with one out in the top of the seventh as a potential UT Martin rally loomed but Samford recovered to claim the frontend of the doubleheader.
Game 2
The Skyhawks led 4-0 and were four outs away from a split on the day but three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth led to a 6-4 setback.
Armstrong posted zeroes on the scoreboard for the first four innings as the UT Martin infield turned a pair of double plays behind him. The McDonough, Ga. native allowed just one hit through the first four frames, allowing the Skyhawks to take their first lead of the day.
UT Martin manufactured its first run in the top of the fourth. Smith reached on a two-out single and soon advanced 90 feet on a stolen base. Bell then lined a clutch opposite-field RBI single to break the scoreless tie.
In the top of the fifth, the Skyhawks sent eight batters to the plate – tallying three runs on four hits. Making his first start of the season, designated hitter Jonah Wichman singled up the middle on a nine-pitch at-bat to ignite the big inning. Mac Danford was then hit by a pitch and following a pitching change, UT Martin produced three consecutive two-out hits. Caleb Hobson legged out an infield single to load the bases for Fernandez, who laced a two-run single to right, extending the Skyhawk advantage out to three runs. Smith then plated Caleb Hobson with an RBI single to make the score 4-0.
The Bulldogs got three runs back in the top of the fifth. After the first two Samford hitters reached base in the sixth, UT Martin recorded outs on a sacrifice bunt and fielder's choice (throwing out a runner trying to score). However, an error on what would have been the third out extended the inning and the next Bulldog cleared the bases with a go-ahead three-run double, giving Samford its first lead (6-4) of the ballgame.
Momentum remained on the Bulldogs' side in the top of the seventh as the Skyhawks could not bring the tying run to the dish.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jacob Cravey (2-2)
L: Petry, Seth (1-2)
Batting:
HR: Self, Nate 1
RBI: Self, Nate 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Self, Nate 1
Batting:
2B: Jayden Davis 1
HR: Garrett Staton 1 ; Andrew Bennett 1
RBI: Garrett Staton 2 ; Andrew Bennett 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Garrett Staton 1 ; Garrett Howe 1 ; Andrew Bennett 1 ; Josh Rodriguez 1
SB: Andrew Bennett 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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C/UTIL
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UTIL
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF/RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
IF
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