UT Martin Gets First Sweep Over Southern Illinois Since 2015

Tuesday, March 24

Martin, Tenn.

5 p.m.

UT Martin

11-13

Southern Illinois

9-14

Southern Illinois

UT Martin

UT Martin Gets First Sweep Over Southern Illinois Since 2015

3/24/2026 11:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Stats PDF

MARTIN, Tenn.- The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team used an 8-2 win over Southern Illinois to sweep the season series over the Salukis for the first time since the 2015 campaign.

The Skyhawks (11-13) outhit Southern Illinois (9-14) 11-4 behind multi-hit performances from TJ Dunsford (two hits, season-high four RBIs, double, stolen base), Tommy Koch (two hits, two RBIs), Colten Payton (two hits, RBI, stolen base) and TJ Grines (two hits, two runs scored, stolen base). Andrew Lawrence (double, RBI), Eli Huebner (run scored) and Garner Anderson (walk, run scored) grabbed base knocks while Andrew Davis (walk, run scored) also reached base safely.

Brandon King (1-3) was stout on the bump in his first victory of the season. The senior threw a season-best five innings allowing just two hits, no runs, no walks and three strikeouts. Making relief appearances were Gabe Bryant (one inning, no hits, no runs, one strikeout), Mason Little (one inning, no hits, no runs, two strikeouts), Silas Jones (one inning, no walks) and Gehrig Wright (one inning, no hits, no runs, one strikeout).

King started his dominant day with a 1-2-3 first inning that opened the door for his offense to unleash a barrage in the home half. The Skyhawks blitzed the Salukis pitching staff in their first chances at the plate; starting off the scoring was Dunsford who doubled to left center to score Grines and Davis. Bases were loaded with two outs and Koch delivered a two-run single up the middle that was followed by a Lawrence RBI double to finish off the scoring and give UT Martin a 5-0 lead after one.

Southern Illinois placed a runner on second base in two consecutive innings, but they got no further. King had his second perfect frame of the game in the fourth and his offense added more runs on the board in the bottom part of the frame. Payton singled to drive in a run and Dunsford singled home two more for an 8-0 advantage.

The righty King finished his outing with another perfect inning to keep the Saluki offense at bay. Bryant entered during the sixth and worked a 1-2-3 frame while Little tossed another zero on the board in the seventh with two strikeouts. Jones completed the eighth and Wright put the finishing touches on the sweep with a flyout, lineout and punchout for a perfect ninth inning.

The Skyhawks host Ohio Valley Conference foe Lindenwood this weekend for the OVC home opener on Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m.