Skyhawks Sweep Doubleheader Over Mississippi Valley State; Time Changes Established For Weekend

Friday, March 6

Martin, Tenn.

12 p.m.

UT Martin

5-7

Mississippi Valley State

2-8

Mississippi Val.

UT Martin

Skyhawks Sweep Doubleheader Over Mississippi Valley State; Time Changes Established For Weekend

3/6/2026 11:47:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Stats PDF: Game 1 Stats PDF: Game 2

MARTIN, Tenn.- The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team swept Mississippi Valley State with a 12-1 win in seven innings in Game 1 and an 8-7 victory in Game 2. The Skyhawks tallied 21 hits in both games combined. Saturday's contest will be played at 3 p.m. and Sunday's series finale is set for 12 p.m.

Game 1: UTM 12, MVSU 1 (7)
The Skyhawks (5-7) were led in hits by TJ Grines (three) who also tallied a home run, three RBIs and two doubles. Andrew Davis (RBI, two runs scored), Garner Anderson (double, two stolen bases, 2 RBIs), JT Popick (home run, three RBIs, stolen base) and Cameron Greene (run scored) notched multi-hit contests. Colten Payton (home run, two RBIs), TJ Dunsford (two runs scored), Cullen Box (walk) and Bo Strickland (run scored, walk) also contributed offensively to UT Martin's third game with 10 or more runs this season.

Jacob Sitton (2-0) equaled his career-best in strikeouts (eight) and innings pitched (seven) for the second consecutive outing while also earning his first career complete game.

After Sitton worked a clean first frame, the Skyhawks started their offensive barrage. Grines led off the game with his first long ball of the season. Then it was Payton's turn to go yard with a two-run shot. Popick added on to his season RBI total from a single to left center and Garner Anderson scored on a throwing error for a five-run first inning.

Sitton recorded back-to-back hitless innings which led to another five-run frame from UT Martin. Davis brought home Grines on a single through the left side to make it 6-0. Anderson doubled home two more runs and Popick smacked a homer to center field for a 10-0 advantage after two.

It was a perfect third and fourth frame for Sitton and more runs came across for the Orange and Blue in the home half of the fourth off a Grines two RBI double. The Delta Devils (2-8) would get their first hit of the contest in the fifth but were halted any further on a double play and strikeout looking.

Another double play by the Skyhawk defense ended the sixth and Sitton put the finishing touches on another quality start when the final batter of the inning popped out to the pitcher himself.

Game 2: UTM 8, MVSU 7
TJ Dunsford (double, home run, two runs scored) smacked three hits to lead the Skyhawks and drove in four runs while Colten Payton (RBI, two runs scored, double, stolen base) and Amari Conley (two doubles, run scored) captured multi-hit performances. Andrew Davis (double, two stolen bases) and Bo Strickland were able to swipe bags for the Skyhawks (6-7).

Will Turner (1-0, 3.1 innings pitched, one strikeout) got his first victory at UT Martin while Cason Sharp (one inning), Dean McCalla (1.2 innings, two strikeouts), Silas Jones (one inning) and Mason Little (save, two innings, one strikeout) pitched in relief.

Turner hung a zero on the board and after a Payton double and Dunsford two-run shot, the Skyhawks were up 3-0 at the end of the first. Mississippi Valley State (2-9) tacked on a run in the top of the third, but that was quickly answered by a Dunsford two-RBI single up the middle to make it 5-1 after three.

Leading by two runs in the home half of the fourth, Conley scored on a fielding error and Grines plated Strickland on a sacrifice fly to centerfield that gave the Skyhawks a 7-3 lead. McCalla faced a bases loaded jam in the top of the fifth and escaped after back-to-back strikeouts. In the bottom part of the frame, Dunsford scored on a wild pitch for an 8-4 advantage for the home team.

The Delta Devils were shut down in the ninth by Little who earned his second save of the season by finishing the game off on a foul out, punchout and flyout.

Tomorrow's first pitch is set for 3 p.m.