Friday, May 12
Martin, Tenn.
1 p.m.
UT Martin
vs
Southeast Missouri
SKYHAWK BASEBALL HOSTS LEAGUE-LEADING SOUTHEAST MISSOURI THIS WEEKEND AS SENIOR DAY IS SET FOR SUNDAY; TOMORROW’S GAMETIME PUSHED UP TO 1 P.M.
5/11/2023 10:36:00 AM | Baseball
MARTIN, Tenn. – For the final time this season, the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team will play in front of the home crowd when the Skyhawks take on Ohio Valley Conference rival Southeast Missouri for a three-game series on Friday, May 12 through Sunday, May 14.
With threats of thunderstorms looming throughout the weekend, the series schedule may be altered. Friday's series opener has been pushed up to 1 p.m. while Saturday (3 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) remain with their original start times for now. Be sure to monitor UTMSports.com for latest updates as they are made available.
Weather permitting, a Senior Day ceremony recognizing the career contributions of Jordan Armstrong, Grant Crihfield, Jack Culumovic, Warren Lee, Chance Merithew, Colin Millar, Seth Petry, Trey Ricko and Nate Self will take place at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Those nine have helped UT Martin (18-31, 11-10 OVC) clinch an OVC Championship tournament berth on May 24-27 in Marion, Ill. – the program's first postseason appearance since 2019.
In league play, the dangerous Skyhawk offense leads the OVC in hits (247 – 48 more than the next highest squad), batting average (.332), doubles (55) and total bases (403).
A plethora of UT Martin hitters find themselves littered all across the OVC's top-10 lists in various statistical rankings in league play. Current OVC Player of the Week Mac Danford ranks first in doubles (eight), second in batting average (.442), third in hits (34), seventh in slugging percentage (.766) and 10th in on-base percentage (.482). Andrew Fernandez tops the OVC in hits (36) and doubles (eight) while coming in second in RBI's (28), third in total bases (65) and sixth in home runs (seven). Caleb Hobson leads the league in triples (three), stolen bases (11) and walks (20) while ranking fourth in hits (33), fifth in on-base percentage (.509), fifth in RBI's (24) and fifth in runs scored (25). Zac Rice (first with eight doubles, sixth with 23 runs scored, eighth with a .732 slugging percentage) also has provided the Skyhawks with thump out of the nine-hole in the lineup.
UT Martin is going with the probable starting rotation of senior right-hander Petry (3-4, 6.35 ERA) on Friday, followed by junior southpaw Tristan Walton (4-5, 4.92) on Saturday and redshirt junior righty Eric Steensma (3-3, 5.07) in the series finale. Against conference opposition, Walton ranks second in wins (three), third in strikeouts (36), sixth in ERA and ninth in innings pitched (32.0). Steensma ranks second in victories (three), third in innings pitched (35.1) and ninth in ERA while Petry's 33.2 innings pitched is the sixth-highest tally in the league.
Out of the bullpen, J. Henry Hobson's three saves rank second in league play while Campbell Cleveland owns three saves overall. Zach Wager is 2-0 with an 0.68 ERA in six OVC relief appearances while Tucker Reed has made a team-best 19 appearances for the Skyhawks.
Back-to-back OVC champion Southeast Missouri (26-23, 14-4 OVC) also checks in atop the conference-only rankings in on-base percentage (.416), RBI's (158), opponent batting average (.239), pitching strikeouts (167) and fewest walks allowed (54).
Jevon Mason (first with 29 runs scored, second with 35 hits, fourth with a .427 batting average, fourth with 60 total bases, sixth with 23 RBI's, eighth with a .495 on-base percentage) and Josh Cameron (first with 32 RBI's, second with 12 home runs, second with 72 total bases, second with a 1.000 slugging percentage, third with a .522 on-base percentage, third with 28 runs scored) have paced the Redhawk lineup in conference play.
Southeast Missouri is expected to start senior lefty Noah Niznik (6-4, 2.89 ERA) in Game 1, either junior right-hander Esteban Hernandez (2-2, 5.74) or junior righty Payton Lawrence (3-1, 4.86) in Game 2 and junior southpaw Haden Dow (4-2, 4.85) in Game 3. Niznik is the OVC leader in wins (four) and strikeouts (46) while ranking second in innings pitched (36.1), third in opponent batting average (.191) and fifth in ERA against league opposition. Dow additionally ranks in the top-10 in OVC play in wins (three, second), opponent batting average (.196, fourth), ERA (seventh) and strikeouts (27, 10th).
Kyle Miller leads the OVC with six saves while Logan Katen has made a team-best 19 appearances with two saves and a win out of the Redhawk bullpen.
The final two games of the series will be streamed live on ESPN+. Those links, plus links to live stats for all three games, are located above.
With threats of thunderstorms looming throughout the weekend, the series schedule may be altered. Friday's series opener has been pushed up to 1 p.m. while Saturday (3 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) remain with their original start times for now. Be sure to monitor UTMSports.com for latest updates as they are made available.
Weather permitting, a Senior Day ceremony recognizing the career contributions of Jordan Armstrong, Grant Crihfield, Jack Culumovic, Warren Lee, Chance Merithew, Colin Millar, Seth Petry, Trey Ricko and Nate Self will take place at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. Those nine have helped UT Martin (18-31, 11-10 OVC) clinch an OVC Championship tournament berth on May 24-27 in Marion, Ill. – the program's first postseason appearance since 2019.
In league play, the dangerous Skyhawk offense leads the OVC in hits (247 – 48 more than the next highest squad), batting average (.332), doubles (55) and total bases (403).
A plethora of UT Martin hitters find themselves littered all across the OVC's top-10 lists in various statistical rankings in league play. Current OVC Player of the Week Mac Danford ranks first in doubles (eight), second in batting average (.442), third in hits (34), seventh in slugging percentage (.766) and 10th in on-base percentage (.482). Andrew Fernandez tops the OVC in hits (36) and doubles (eight) while coming in second in RBI's (28), third in total bases (65) and sixth in home runs (seven). Caleb Hobson leads the league in triples (three), stolen bases (11) and walks (20) while ranking fourth in hits (33), fifth in on-base percentage (.509), fifth in RBI's (24) and fifth in runs scored (25). Zac Rice (first with eight doubles, sixth with 23 runs scored, eighth with a .732 slugging percentage) also has provided the Skyhawks with thump out of the nine-hole in the lineup.
UT Martin is going with the probable starting rotation of senior right-hander Petry (3-4, 6.35 ERA) on Friday, followed by junior southpaw Tristan Walton (4-5, 4.92) on Saturday and redshirt junior righty Eric Steensma (3-3, 5.07) in the series finale. Against conference opposition, Walton ranks second in wins (three), third in strikeouts (36), sixth in ERA and ninth in innings pitched (32.0). Steensma ranks second in victories (three), third in innings pitched (35.1) and ninth in ERA while Petry's 33.2 innings pitched is the sixth-highest tally in the league.
Out of the bullpen, J. Henry Hobson's three saves rank second in league play while Campbell Cleveland owns three saves overall. Zach Wager is 2-0 with an 0.68 ERA in six OVC relief appearances while Tucker Reed has made a team-best 19 appearances for the Skyhawks.
Back-to-back OVC champion Southeast Missouri (26-23, 14-4 OVC) also checks in atop the conference-only rankings in on-base percentage (.416), RBI's (158), opponent batting average (.239), pitching strikeouts (167) and fewest walks allowed (54).
Jevon Mason (first with 29 runs scored, second with 35 hits, fourth with a .427 batting average, fourth with 60 total bases, sixth with 23 RBI's, eighth with a .495 on-base percentage) and Josh Cameron (first with 32 RBI's, second with 12 home runs, second with 72 total bases, second with a 1.000 slugging percentage, third with a .522 on-base percentage, third with 28 runs scored) have paced the Redhawk lineup in conference play.
Southeast Missouri is expected to start senior lefty Noah Niznik (6-4, 2.89 ERA) in Game 1, either junior right-hander Esteban Hernandez (2-2, 5.74) or junior righty Payton Lawrence (3-1, 4.86) in Game 2 and junior southpaw Haden Dow (4-2, 4.85) in Game 3. Niznik is the OVC leader in wins (four) and strikeouts (46) while ranking second in innings pitched (36.1), third in opponent batting average (.191) and fifth in ERA against league opposition. Dow additionally ranks in the top-10 in OVC play in wins (three, second), opponent batting average (.196, fourth), ERA (seventh) and strikeouts (27, 10th).
Kyle Miller leads the OVC with six saves while Logan Katen has made a team-best 19 appearances with two saves and a win out of the Redhawk bullpen.
The final two games of the series will be streamed live on ESPN+. Those links, plus links to live stats for all three games, are located above.
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