BASEBALL TEAM HOSTS IN-STATE RIVAL TENNESSEE TECH IN OVC WEEKEND SHOWDOWN
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team will look to move up in the Ohio Valley Conference standings when it hosts the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles this weekend at Skyhawk Field. First pitch times are scheduled for 6 p.m. (Friday, March 22), 3 p.m. (Saturday, March 23) and 1 p.m. (Sunday, March 24).
All-time, the Skyhawks hold an 18-15 advantage over Tennessee Tech at home, including a 2-1 series win over the Golden Eagles last season. UT Martin was led offensively by Phil Sorensen (five RBI) and Sonny Mastromatteo (three RBI) in that series, while Dan Tobik and Carter Smith each earned victories on the mound in that series.
UT Martin (8-13, 1-5 OVC) is coming off an 8-3 midweek victory over Evansville on Wednesday. In that game, four Skyhawks tallied multi-hit performances, led by Grant Glasser and Luis Paublini, who each scored two runs apiece. Hagen Nelson and Nico Zych both recorded two RBI as well to lead UT Martin. On the mound, Dalton Potts (two innings), Trevor Lundgrin (0.2 innings), Carter Smith (four innings) and Stu Jones (one inning) each registered scoreless appearances.
Against Tennessee Tech, the Skyhawks will start senior right-hander Dan Tobik (1-1, 4.38 ERA) in Game 1, sophomore southpaw Taylor Cox (0-1, 4.64) in Game 2 and Potts (3-2, 5.40) in Game 3. Tobik and Cox have ranked amongst the league leaders in strikeouts all season long, while Potts has chalked up a team-high three victories.
The Golden Eagles (15-6, 5-1 OVC) enter the series on an eight-game winning streak and lead the OVC in slugging percentage (.444), runs scored (146) and home runs (17) while the pitching staff has rang up a league-best 194 strikeouts.
Brandon Thomasson paces the OVC in home runs (seven), RBI (27) and slugging percentage (.750), while Zach Stephens leads the league in runs scored (26) and ranks second with 24 RBI.
Tennessee Tech has announced Tristan Archer (3-1, 3.01 ERA, second in the OVC with 33 strikeouts), as its probable starting pitcher for Game 1, followed by Nick Price (3-1, 5.24) in Game 2 and Jacob Honea (1-1, 4.50) in the series finale.
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