Skyhawks Open 2026 Slate With Butler This Weekend

MARTIN, Tenn.- The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team begins the 2026 season this weekend when it hosts Big East foe Butler for a four-game tilt. A doubleheader begins the season on Friday, Feb. 13 starting at noon. Game 3 is set for Saturday, Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. while the series finale takes place on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m.

The Skyhawks 2026 team features 15 returners and 19 newcomers that are headlined by preseason OVC Players to Watch TJ Grines and Jacob Sitton. UT Martin finished last season with its third consecutive postseason appearance (school record) and an NCAA DI Era stolen base record (118, six stolen bases away from the all-time record).

Grines had his 2025 season cut short due to injury but was a force in the 23 games he started. The Alexandria, La. native compiled an OPS of .980 with a .364 average, two home runs, seven doubles and 15 stolen bases (only got caught stealing once). Sitton totaled six quality starts and tied for the team lead in strikeouts with 53. The Bradford, Tenn. native ranked seventh in conference play in earned run average (3.86).

The right-handed senior Sitton takes the mound in Game 1 while senior righty Maxwell Schumacher toes the rubber in Game 2 on Friday. For Saturday's contest, junior right-hander Cason Sharp gets the start and in the series finale junior righty Dean McCalla earns the start on Sunday.

Butler will make the drive south from Indianapolis, Ind. for its second series all-time at Skyhawk Field. Head Coach Blake Beemer enters his fourth season with the Bulldogs and once spent time as an assistant coach in the Ohio Valley Conference with Eastern Illinois (2016-18). Catcher Connor Sackett batted .349 during his junior season and posted a .430 slugging percentage.

Live stats for all four games will be available on the link above.

Skyhawks Open 2026 Slate With Butler This Weekend

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Players Mentioned

TJ Grines

Dean McCalla

Maxwell Schumacher

Cason Sharp

Jacob Sitton