BALANCED BATTING BLINDSIDES MIAMI (OHIO) AS UTM CRUISES TO FIRST WIN OF 2022 SEASON
MARTIN, Tenn. – Scoring from virtually every direction throughout Sunday afternoon’s third-game finale against the Redhawks of Miami (Ohio), the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad avoided a sweep in an emphatic way in front on a raucous audience in the sunshine, grabbing the lead in the 3rd frame and never letting up on their way to a 13-8 dissection and the first W of the year.
JUCO transfer Matt Dickey, true freshman Noah Walters, Trey Ricko, and long-time catcher Blake Davis split time in the mound for the Skyhawks, canning 12 batters while walking only five on the way to the win. It was the UTM offense that shined brightest at the close of the weekend, however, leading to six hits put together from shortstop Casey Harford, rightfielder Jack Culumovic, and first-time starter Cameron Brady from the catching spot.
Brady and Nate Self – another 2022 first-timer in the lineup at third-base – synced up for seven of the team’s 11 RBI on Sunday, helping secure two runs or more in four separate innings, most notably a five-run haul in the bottom of the 6th that kept Miami at bay.
For the third consecutive day, the Redhawks were the first ones to find home plate in the top of the 2nd, bouncing a two-run homer off of Dickey courtesy of Willie Escala. Just as quickly as the visitors struck first, UTM was right in position to deliver an answer later that same inning. It came off the bat of Harford, who lobbed his 15th career HR and the team’s second of the weekend in solo form. A passed ball and a two-RBI crunch from Self in the 3rd stanza cushioned the Skyhawks with their first lead of the day at 5-2, where it would only grow larger from there.
Not one to go away quietly, Miami pushed back in the 4th period on a double from Tyler Wardwell down the rightfield curve, cutting the deficit back to one. Brady mirrored that same exact play on the opposite side of the field in the bottom of the 5th to deny the Redhawks of ever regaining the advantage, sending Self and Culumovic around the diamond to home base.
Once more trimming the lead down to a single run thanks to another long-ball from lead-off man J.J. Woolwine in the top of the 6th, Miami looked as if another rally was in full force. One more Skyhawk haymaker was enough to dispel any of those rumors, as head coach Ryan Jenkins‘ group landed the next six runs to put the game out of reach.
Having surrendered five runs in a single frame on three separate occasions earlier in the series, UTM dealt the Redhawks a dose of their own medicine with a 6th-inning avalanche, kicked off with an RBI base-hit by Culumovic. Two more RBI from Brady – plus a series of wild pitches and passed balls that each gave up one additional run – gave UT Martin the avenue to put on cruise control for the rest of the day with a 12-6 lead.
Said lead expanded +1 thanks to yet another Culumovic RBI, allowing the Skyhawks to salvage the weekend series after consecutive losses by nine and five runs respectively. Walters was granted the win behind three solid innings of relief throwing, tossing three out of 10 players faced while only giving up a pair of hits.
Consequently, Colin Czajowski was saddled with the loss in the circle for Miami after only lasting 2.1 innings before exiting. The Redhawk starter, Tyler Ronevich, and Brady McLean let a grand total of 10 UTM runs slide by, taking the Game 3 loss in an uncharacteristic defensive showing.
Enjoying the program’s first season-opening home series since 2010, coach Jenkins and co. will be getting very familiar with the road over the next two and a half weeks, trudging across the state of Alabama for the next eight dates on the schedule starting this Tuesday. A one-and-done visit to Alabama A&M in Huntsville stands as the next go-around for the navy and orange, who will then take on their second-straight SWAC member Alabama State next weekend in a three-game set.
The Bulldogs didn’t partake in the most joyful season-opener, falling thrice to Milwaukee on their home turf by a combined score of 36-18. The first pitch from the Yellowhammer State will take place at 1:00 p.m.
