
UT MARTIN BASEBALL TO HOST LEAGUE-LEADING LITTLE ROCK IN CONFERENCE BOUT
4/11/2024 3:01:00 PM | Baseball
MARTIN, Tenn.- The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team will embrace some beautiful weather this weekend as it welcomes in Ohio Valley Conference foe Little Rock for a three-game set. Game 1's first pitch will be Friday, April 12 at 5 p.m. with Game 2 starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. The series finale will take place on Sunday, April 14 at 1 p.m.
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In the league's statistical categories, the UT Martin (12-21, 4-5 OVC) offense ranks first in doubles (76), second in hits (332) and fourth in batting average (.287), slugging percentage (.468), total bases (541) and RBI's (207).
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Reigning OVC Player of the Week Blaze Bell is riding a five-game hitting streak with 11 hits and three home runs during that span. Senior Mac Danford has belted a team-high seven long balls to pair with 32 RBI's (fourth in the OVC). Will Smith leads the team in multi-hit games, racking up 14 while Andrew Fernandez (.933 OPS) has reached base safely in 14 straight contests. Additionally, Hunter McLean has four doubles and two home runs during a current five-game hitting streak.
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Senior southpaw Tristan Walton ranks among the league's best in ERA (3.13, third), strikeouts (48, third), innings pitched (46, fourth) and opposing batting average (.259, seventh). Tucker Reed is tied in second for wins in conference play (2) while sporting a 3.48 ERA. Brock Arender has punched out five batters in his last 2.1 innings pitched along with no earned runs in seven of his nine outings.
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Currently tied for first in the league standings, Little Rock (17-15, 6-3 OVC) has compiled a 5.74 ERA (second in the OVC) while fanning 302 batters (110 struck out looking). Senior Hoss Brewer headlines the Trojan pitching staff as the righty is top-five in the conference in strikeouts (59, first), ERA (2.44, second), opposing batting average (.215, second) and innings pitched (48, third). Nico Baumbach has popped off for 13 doubles (first in OVC) behind a team-leading .509 slugging percentage.
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Defending OVC Pitcher of the Year Jackson Wells has hurled 36.1 innings with 34 strikeouts and a 3-2 record. Against league opponents, catcher Jake Wright is batting .485 while driving in seven runs and posting a 1.200 OPS.
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The Skyhawks are expected to throw Walton (2-4) in Game 1, redshirt senior right-hander Eric Steensma (2-3, 4.57 ERA) in Game 2 and sophomore righty Jeb Bartle (1-2, 5.91 ERA) in Game 3. Little Rock is expected to throw the righty Brewer (4-2) in Game 1, junior right-hander Wells (5.45 ERA) for Game 2 and Game 3's starter is to be announced.
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Fans can watch the action on ESPN+ and follow along via the live stats link above.
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In the league's statistical categories, the UT Martin (12-21, 4-5 OVC) offense ranks first in doubles (76), second in hits (332) and fourth in batting average (.287), slugging percentage (.468), total bases (541) and RBI's (207).
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Reigning OVC Player of the Week Blaze Bell is riding a five-game hitting streak with 11 hits and three home runs during that span. Senior Mac Danford has belted a team-high seven long balls to pair with 32 RBI's (fourth in the OVC). Will Smith leads the team in multi-hit games, racking up 14 while Andrew Fernandez (.933 OPS) has reached base safely in 14 straight contests. Additionally, Hunter McLean has four doubles and two home runs during a current five-game hitting streak.
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Senior southpaw Tristan Walton ranks among the league's best in ERA (3.13, third), strikeouts (48, third), innings pitched (46, fourth) and opposing batting average (.259, seventh). Tucker Reed is tied in second for wins in conference play (2) while sporting a 3.48 ERA. Brock Arender has punched out five batters in his last 2.1 innings pitched along with no earned runs in seven of his nine outings.
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Currently tied for first in the league standings, Little Rock (17-15, 6-3 OVC) has compiled a 5.74 ERA (second in the OVC) while fanning 302 batters (110 struck out looking). Senior Hoss Brewer headlines the Trojan pitching staff as the righty is top-five in the conference in strikeouts (59, first), ERA (2.44, second), opposing batting average (.215, second) and innings pitched (48, third). Nico Baumbach has popped off for 13 doubles (first in OVC) behind a team-leading .509 slugging percentage.
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Defending OVC Pitcher of the Year Jackson Wells has hurled 36.1 innings with 34 strikeouts and a 3-2 record. Against league opponents, catcher Jake Wright is batting .485 while driving in seven runs and posting a 1.200 OPS.
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The Skyhawks are expected to throw Walton (2-4) in Game 1, redshirt senior right-hander Eric Steensma (2-3, 4.57 ERA) in Game 2 and sophomore righty Jeb Bartle (1-2, 5.91 ERA) in Game 3. Little Rock is expected to throw the righty Brewer (4-2) in Game 1, junior right-hander Wells (5.45 ERA) for Game 2 and Game 3's starter is to be announced.
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Fans can watch the action on ESPN+ and follow along via the live stats link above.
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