MARTIN, Tenn.– The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team fell in narrow 4-1 contest to Illinois State in Game 1 of its weekend series.
A pitcher’s duel took place at Skyhawk Field this evening as UT Martin (5-13) sent four hurlers to the mound. Tristan Walton (2-3) earned the start and struck out four batters over six innings, spinning his third quality start of the young 2024 campaign. Brock Arender (career-high three strikeouts), Eli Martin and Baylor Jones followed with one inning apiece – combining for zero earned runs and just two hits allowed out of the bullpen.
The Skyhawk offense was led by Will Smith (3-for-4) while Cole Smith (RBI), and Zac Rice (run scored) were both involved in UT Martin’s scoring.
Despite the Redbirds (7-8) gaining a run in the opening inning, Walton was nails as he stranded the bases loaded to end the frame. The senior southpaw followed with a perfect seven-pitch inning in the second and started an inning-ending double play in a scoreless third. He conceded only a harmless bunt single in the fourth inning before Illinois State had a two-run, two-out double in the top of the fifth to go on top by a 3-0 margin.
Walton once again stranded the bases loaded in the sixth, picking up a pair of strikeouts before a groundout wrapped up his evening.
The Skyhawks got on the scoreboard in the sixth frame as Rice singled through the left side with one away, then stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error. Soon thereafter, Cole Smith lifted an RBI double to deep left field to pull UT Martin within two runs.
Arender would relieve Walton in the seventh and fanned three of the first four batters he faced. The Redbirds loaded the bases in the eighth but Martin left the Redbirds with ducks on the pond thanks in large part to a heads-up defensive play where he threw out a runner at the plate on a fielder’s choice. Jones got his moment on the bump with a shutout ninth inning, going three-up and three-down.
Will Smith would earn his third base hit of the game in the bottom of the ninth but the Skyhawks could not extend the contest.
UT Martin will aim to even up the series tomorrow as Game 2 will begin at 3 p.m. on ESPN+.
