Wednesday, March 16, 2022

WCU Baseball - UT Martin



The Catamounts return home to Hennon Stadium to host the University of Tennessee at Martin Skyhawks for a weekend series. This will be the first meeting between the two teams. 


Who: University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin)
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday (March 18-20)
Time: Fri - 5:00; Sat - 2:00 pm; Sun -1:00 pm
Where: Hennon Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: none
TV/Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: WCU live stats 
Nickname: Skyhawks
Mascot: Captian Skyhawk
Colors: Red, Blue & Orange
Conference: Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)

The Series: This will be the first meeting between the two teams on the baseball diamond.

Head Coach: Ryan Jenkins is in his fifth season as head coach of the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball program in 2022. He was named to the position on April 17, 2018 after serving as interim head coach for the previous four months. Last season, the Skyhawks boasted three Ohio Valley Conference postseason honorees, which are tied for the second-most in program history. Winston Cannon became only the second starting pitcher in school history to be named All-OVC first team, David Hussey became just the second relief pitcher in program history to earn All-OVC second-team status while Wil LaFollette captured OVC All-Freshman honors.

UTM's 2022 record: 6-9 overall, 2-3 home, 4-5 away, 0-1 neutral, 0-0 conference
UTM's 2021 record: 19-29 overall, 5-8 home, 14-21 away, 0-0 neutral, 10-17 conference

The 6-9 Skyhawks come to Cullowhee fresh off a midweek win over Souther Illonise which broke a two-game skid on the road. The only common opponent thus far is Illinois State.  

Picked ninth in the nine-team preseason Ohio Valley Conference baseball poll, expectations remain high inside the UTM baseball team. The Skyhawks return 27 letter winners from last year's squad, headlined by sophomore infielder Will Smith who was the lone UTM player on the Ohio Valley Conference's preseason baseball team. Martin has five players that had started 35-or-more career games entering the season. Friday's starter for UTM, 

Rhett Fetner was dubbed the OVC Pitcher of the Week on March 14 after tossing the program's first complete-game shutout since 2016 in blanking Central Arkansas, scattering four hits over the nine-inning outing with four strikeouts to counter a pair of walks.

Friday, March 18 | 5:00 p.m. | Coverage: ESPN+
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – RHP Zebby Matthews (0-2, 4.94 ERA, 23.2 IP, 33K, 2BB)
UT Martin – RHP Rhett Fetner (3-1, 3.46 ERA, 26.0 IP, 21K, 11BB)

Saturday, March 19 | 2:00 p.m. | Coverage: ESPN+ 
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – LHP Eric Wallington (0-2, 4.91 ERA, 14.2 IP, 18K, 9BB)
UT Martin – RHP Matt Dickey (1-2, 8.53 ERA, 12.2 IP, 16K, 9BB)

Sunday, March 20 | 1:00 p.m. | Coverage: ESPN+ 
Probable Starters:
Western Carolina – RHP Gavin Mortenson (1-2, 5.19 ERA, 17.1 IP, 20K, 6BB)
UT Martin – TBA

 




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