UT Martin
Middle Tennessee
UT MARTIN BASEBALL TO HOST IN-STATE RIVAL MIDDLE TENNESSEE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS; FIRST TWO GAME TIMES CHANGED
2/29/2024 2:47:00 PM | Baseball
MARTIN, Tenn.- For the first time since 1999, the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team will welcome in Middle Tennessee to Skyhawk Field for a three-game series. Game 1 will be Friday, March 1 at 2 p.m. with Game 2 following on Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. Game 3 is set for Sunday, March 3 with first pitch at 1 p.m.
As a team, UT Martin (4-5) continues to rank as one of the best offenses in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Orange and Blue lead the league in batting average (.308), hits (97), doubles (21) and total bases (151) while ranking second in slugging percentage (.485) and on-base percentage (.384). The pitching staff for the Skyhawks is currently second in the conference in strikeouts (63) and have held batters to a .266 average (fourth).
Senior outfielder Will Smith holds the team lead in batting average (.400) and hits (14) while Andrew Fernandez (team-best 1.054 OPS) has reached base safely in every game this season. Jalen Fithian, Smith and Mac Danford are riding six-game hitting streaks heading into the weekend while Zac Rice and Blaze Bell have both driven in eight RBI's.
The UT Martin pitching staff has seen tremendous work from senior righty Eric Steensma (.175 opposing batting average in a team-high 10.2 innings) and senior left-hander Tristan Walton (coming off six strikeouts while earning the win last Friday over Brown). Choyce Diffey (career-high eight punchouts on Tuesday against Memphis) and Dylan Lapic (1.42 ERA, .059 opponent batting average) have also pitched well. Eli Martin sports a 1.80 ERA in a team-high four appearances out of the bullpen while Kaleb Baskin (1.00 WHIP in three appearances) and Jeb Bartle (one hit allowed in four innings over last two appearances) have excelled in high-leverage spots.
Making the near three-hour drive from Murfreesboro, Tenn., the Blue Raiders (3-5) are coming off a 7-3 setback in a midweek game to Lipscomb. Led by head coach Jerry Myers, Middle Tennessee brings in the hot bats of Gabe Jennings (.514 batting average/.564 on-base percentage/.657 slugging percentage, 18 hits) and Briggs Rutter (.419/.500/.710, 14 RBI's, two triples). True freshman Chandler Alderman leads the pitching staff in strikeouts with 11 and Kota Sato (10.1 innings, eight strikeouts, 1.26 WHIP) boasts a .189 opposing batting average.
UT Martin is expected to throw senior left-hander Walton (1-1, 2.25 ERA) for Game 1, Steensma (1-0, 1.69) for Game 2 and sophomore southpaw Zach Wager (0-2, 6.75) in the series finale. The Blue Raiders probable starters are Sato (0-0, 6.10) for Game 1, Matt Schepel (0-0, 2.57) in Game 2 and Game 3's starter is to be announced.
Fans can follow along via the live stats link above.
