SKYHAWKS THROW A HIT PARADE IN OVC BASEBALL OPENER, DOWNING EASTERN ILLINOIS BY A 9-5 MARGIN

Saturday, March 25

Martin, Tenn.

5 p.m.

UT Martin

6-17, 1-0

Eastern Illinois

12-5, 0-1

UT Martin

Eastern Illinois

SKYHAWKS THROW A HIT PARADE IN OVC BASEBALL OPENER, DOWNING EASTERN ILLINOIS BY A 9-5 MARGIN

3/25/2023 11:15:00 PM | Baseball

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MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad put an end to one of the NCAA's longest winning streaks this evening, chalking up a season-high 16 hits in a 9-5 triumph over Eastern Illinois to kick off the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference schedule.

In addition to hits, the Skyhawks also set season-high tallies in doubles (six), extra-base hits (eight) and total bases (27) against a Panther pitching staff that entered the series leading the OVC in ERA.

Six UT Martin batters posted multi-hit efforts, paced by Hunter McLean's three base knocks and one run scored. Zac Rice went 2-for-3 with two RBI's and two runs scored out of the 9-hole in the lineup while Caleb Hobson (two runs scored, one RBI), Will Smith (two RBI's), Andrew Fernandez (one run scored) and Nate Self (one run scored) each generated two hits apiece. Jonah Wichman homered and drove in two runs for the Skyhawks, who snapped Eastern Illinois' eight-game winning streak.

Seth Petry (2-2) received the starting nod for UT Martin and picked up the win, allowing three earned runs over five innings. That was more than enough support for Tristan Walton, who earned his first save after shoving through four innings – striking out six Panthers while conceding zero earned runs in an electric performance.

The Skyhawks (6-17, 1-0 OVC) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, crossing the plate twice in the top of the first. Hobson drew a five-pitch walk to lead off the contest and advanced to third on a Fernandez double. Smith (groundout) and Blaze Bell (sacrifice fly) drove both runners home to put UT Martin ahead, 2-0.

Eastern Illinois (12-5, 0-1 OVC) scored once in the bottom half but Petry did a good job of limiting the damage – stranding the bases loaded.

A four-run top of the second was in store for the Skyhawks. McLean roped a leadoff double before Self was issued a walk. Cameron Brady executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners up for Rice, who smoked a two-run double. Three pitches later, Rice came around to score on an RBI double off the bat of Hobson, who soon sprinted home on a wild pitch to make the score 6-1 in favor of UT Martin.

Two runs (one unearned) crossed the plate for the Panthers in the second but Wichman got one run back in the top of the third, drilling a 2-1 pitch for a towering home run beyond the right field wall for the first round tripper of his Skyhawk career.

UT Martin's defense shined in the next two innings behind Petry. The Skyhawks turned a big double play to hold Eastern Illinois to one run in the third before a full-extension diving catch from Smith out in left field ended the inning and potentially saved two runs from scoring.

Bell came out on top of an 11-pitch at-bat to lead off the fifth, ripping a triple off the wall in left center. He then trotted home on a Wichman sacrifice fly to extend the Skyhawk advantage out to 8-4.

Petry worked scoreless frames in his final two innings, inducing three groundouts in the bottom of the fifth to wrap up his day.

UT Martin produced its final run in the top of the sixth as Rice singled through the left side to start the inning. He advanced to second on a fielder's choice and eventually came in to score on a Smith RBI single to center, opening up a 9-4 lead for the Skyhawks.

Walton's magnificent appearance started with a pair of strikeouts to leave the bases loaded in the sixth. The Panthers did scratch across an unearned run in the seventh but the lefty out of Clay, Ala. notched two more strikeouts in the inning, including an inning-ending punchout with a pair of runners on.

Walton needed just 12 pitches to face the minimum in a scoreless eighth and displayed wipeout stuff in the ninth, striking out the first two batters he faced. He then induced a soft lineout to retire the side in order, elevating UT Martin to the victory.

These two sides will play a doubleheader tomorrow starting at noon. The first game will be a nine-inning affair while the backend will be a seven-inning contest.