MARTIN, Tenn.– The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team fought hard but dropped Game 3 of the weekend series to Middle Tennessee, 10-8.
Will Smith and Mac Danford each had two hits with a home run and two RBI’s apiece while Jalen Fithian (2-for-4), Andrew Fernandez, Cameron Brady and Garner Anderson also drove in a run for the Skyhawk offense today. The trio of Zac Rice, Cole Smith and Blaze Bell all crossed the plate for UT Martin (5-7), who had 12 hits on the day.
Zach Wager got the start on the mound and kept the Blue Raiders (5-6) off the scoreboard in four of his five innings. The sophomore lefty received a no-decision while Kaleb Baskin (0-1) and Jeb Bartle tossed two frames apiece out of the bullpen.
Wager stranded a pair of baserunners in the top of the first, setting the stage for a big blast in the home half. Will Smith roped a two-out single before a Danford round-tripper on a 3-2 count over the right field wall gave the Skyhawks a 2-0 advantage.
Wager would continue to slice through the Blue Raider lineup, posting two more scoreless frames in the second and third innings – retiring six of seven batters during that stretch.
Middle Tennessee scored three runs in the top of the fourth but Wager tossed another zero on the scoreboard in his final inning, pitching around a two-out error that caused a pair of runners on the basepaths in the fifth. Trailing by one run in the bottom of that inning, Rice doubled down the third base line and would later score from an Andrew Fernandez single to knot the game up at 3-all.
Baskin delivered a scoreless frame in the top of the sixth, allowing UT Martin to take a lead in its next at-bat. Cole Smith was issued a leadoff walk and Bell singled right behind him to ignite a rally. Following a groundout, Brady lifted a sacrifice fly before Fithian lined an RBI single to left center, putting the Skyhawks on top, 5-3.
The Blue Raiders reclaimed the lead with three runs in the top of the seventh and added four runs (one unearned) in the top of the ninth. With its back against the wall, UT Martin made things interested in the bottom half as Will Smith launched a two-run homer and Anderson doubled off the wall in right center to plate Danford. The Skyhawks brought the tying run to the plate but Middle Tennessee was able to escape with the win.
UT Martin now hits the road for a five-game road trip, starting on Tuesday, March 5 when it visits UAB. First pitch in Birmingham, Ala. is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.