Sharp Shines In Skyhawks' 14-2 Run Rule Victory Over Western Illinois

Saturday, May 2

Macomb, Ill.

1 p.m.

UT Martin

22-24, 8-12

Western Illinois

16-29, 8-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
UT Martin	1	1	2	2	3	2	3	0	14	17	0
Western Ill.	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	11	0

Photo by: Stasi Solbrig/UTM Athletics

Sharp Shines In Skyhawks' 14-2 Run Rule Victory Over Western Illinois

5/2/2026 5:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MACOMB, Ill.- The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team run ruled Ohio Valley Conference foe Western Illinois 14-2 behind Cason Sharp's first complete game of the season.

The Skyhawks (22-24, 8-12 OVC) outhit the Leathernecks (16-29, 8-12 OVC) 17-11 with every position player reaching base safely in the contest. Andrew Lawrence (two RBIs) notched a season-high four hits and fell just a home run away from the cycle. TJ Grines (season-high four RBIs, home run) and Eli Huebner (double, home run, three RBIs) had three hits apiece while Andrew Davis and JT Popick also had multi-hit outings.

Sharp threw the full seven innings and struck out four while only allowing two runs throughout the day.

In the first, Lawrence was able to sneak home for the game's first run after Western Illinois' defense was dealing with Dunsford in a pickle. The right-hander Sharp started his outing with a scoreless inning from a flyout and inning-ending double play. Tommy Koch laid down a bunt that plated another run in the top of the second and it was 2-0. Sharp worked around a lead-off single to toss a zero up on the board to close the inning.

Lawrence used a triple to score Grines in the fourth and later Payton drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to left field. Sharp stranded a runner in scoring position in the home half to keep his outing rolling on. With two outs, UT Martin scored two more runs this time off a Grines RBI single and Lawrence RBI double to left field to up the advantage to 6-0. The Leathernecks brought a run across in the fourth but would do no further damage in the inning.

Huebner stepped up to the plate in the top of the fifth and delivered a three-run homer to left field that extended the lead to 9-1. Sharp spun back-to-back scoreless innings and his offense added on two more runs during the sixth from a balk and RBI sacrifice fly to right field.

Grines tacked on three more runs off a blast over the left field wall for a 14-1 lead. The Leathernecks brought a run across in the seventh, but Sharp closed out the game with his fourth strikeout of the afternoon.

The rubber match is set for tomorrow at 1 p.m.