Saturday, March 25
Martin, Tenn.
5 p.m.
UT Martin
vs
Eastern Illinois
Photo by: UT Martin University Relations
UT MARTIN BASEBALL OPENS OVC SCHEDULE WITH LAST-MINUTE HOME SERIES AGAINST EASTERN ILLINOIS THIS WEEKEND
3/24/2023 8:46:00 AM | Baseball
MARTIN, Tenn. – Ohio Valley Conference play begins for the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad when it collides against Eastern Illinois for a rescheduled three-game set at Skyhawk Field. First pitch times for the series are 3 p.m. for a Saturday, March 25 single game and 12 p.m. for a doubleheader on Sunday, March 26.
This series was originally slated to take place in Charleston, Ill. but steady rain in the forecast forced a change in location. These two squads have been evenly matched lately as UT Martin and the Panthers have split their last 24 contests since May 16, 2014. Seven of those games have been decided by one run.
In their last six games, the Skyhawks (5-17) have outhit their opponent five times – muscling up for 51 base knocks as opposed to only 39 for the opposition. Also during that stretch, the UT Martin pitching staff has posted a 3.52 ERA with a miniscule .228 opponent batting average.
Jonah Wichman has guided the Skyhawks in batting average (.455) and slugging percentage (.545) during the aforementioned six-game span while Andrew Fernandez (.429 batting average) and Will Smith (team-best .458 on-base percentage) have also led the UT Martin offense. On the hill, Zach Wager (seven innings), Eric Steensma (6.1 innings) and Baylor Jones (one inning) sport unblemished 0.00 ERA's over that stretch while the bullpen duo of J. Henry Hobson and Tristan Walton have combined for a 2.00 ERA over nine innings spread out over six appearances.
This weekend, the Skyhawks are projected to throw senior right-hander and OVC innings leader Seth Petry (1-2, 4.08 ERA in 28.2 frames) in the series opener while senior righty Jordan Armstrong (1-2, 7.27) will toe the rubber in the backend of Saturday's doubleheader. Game 3 will likely be started by redshirt junior right-hander Steensma (0-1, 5.03).
Despite playing all of its games on the road so far in 2023, Eastern Illinois (12-4) enters on an eight-game winning streak – currently ranking as the fifth-longest in the NCAA Division I ranks. The dozen victories are tied with Rider for the most road wins in the nation. Although this counts as a road series for the Panthers, they will be the home team on the scoreboard and bat in the bottom half of each inning.
Eastern Illinois tops the OVC in batting average (.279), on-base percentage (.400), ERA (4.52) and fewest hits allowed (9.0 per contest). Cade Zalewski leads the league with a .767 slugging percentage while Grant Lashure (.382) paces eight Panthers who hit .300 or better. Preseason All-OVC honoree Ryan Ignoffo guides the squad with 19 RBI's. Eastern Illinois has a trio of right-handers in sophomore Tyler Conklin (2-1, 6.86), graduate Ky Matthews-Hampton (3-0, 2.93) and redshirt senior Blake Malatestinic (2-1, 7.59) listed as its probable weekend rotation in Games 1 through 3, respectively.
Live stats for the weekend can be found at the links above.
This series was originally slated to take place in Charleston, Ill. but steady rain in the forecast forced a change in location. These two squads have been evenly matched lately as UT Martin and the Panthers have split their last 24 contests since May 16, 2014. Seven of those games have been decided by one run.
In their last six games, the Skyhawks (5-17) have outhit their opponent five times – muscling up for 51 base knocks as opposed to only 39 for the opposition. Also during that stretch, the UT Martin pitching staff has posted a 3.52 ERA with a miniscule .228 opponent batting average.
Jonah Wichman has guided the Skyhawks in batting average (.455) and slugging percentage (.545) during the aforementioned six-game span while Andrew Fernandez (.429 batting average) and Will Smith (team-best .458 on-base percentage) have also led the UT Martin offense. On the hill, Zach Wager (seven innings), Eric Steensma (6.1 innings) and Baylor Jones (one inning) sport unblemished 0.00 ERA's over that stretch while the bullpen duo of J. Henry Hobson and Tristan Walton have combined for a 2.00 ERA over nine innings spread out over six appearances.
This weekend, the Skyhawks are projected to throw senior right-hander and OVC innings leader Seth Petry (1-2, 4.08 ERA in 28.2 frames) in the series opener while senior righty Jordan Armstrong (1-2, 7.27) will toe the rubber in the backend of Saturday's doubleheader. Game 3 will likely be started by redshirt junior right-hander Steensma (0-1, 5.03).
Despite playing all of its games on the road so far in 2023, Eastern Illinois (12-4) enters on an eight-game winning streak – currently ranking as the fifth-longest in the NCAA Division I ranks. The dozen victories are tied with Rider for the most road wins in the nation. Although this counts as a road series for the Panthers, they will be the home team on the scoreboard and bat in the bottom half of each inning.
Eastern Illinois tops the OVC in batting average (.279), on-base percentage (.400), ERA (4.52) and fewest hits allowed (9.0 per contest). Cade Zalewski leads the league with a .767 slugging percentage while Grant Lashure (.382) paces eight Panthers who hit .300 or better. Preseason All-OVC honoree Ryan Ignoffo guides the squad with 19 RBI's. Eastern Illinois has a trio of right-handers in sophomore Tyler Conklin (2-1, 6.86), graduate Ky Matthews-Hampton (3-0, 2.93) and redshirt senior Blake Malatestinic (2-1, 7.59) listed as its probable weekend rotation in Games 1 through 3, respectively.
Live stats for the weekend can be found at the links above.
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