Late fall by UT Martin continues OVC woes

Posted: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 12:00 pm

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — UT Martin played even with Southeast Missouri through six innings, but the Redhawks ended the game with five unanswered runs in their final two at-bats to hand the Skyhawks a 7-2 loss in OVC baseball action Saturday at Capaha Field.
SEMO completed a league three-game sweep with the win, taking Thursday’s game 8-5 and Friday’s contest 9-6. UTM is now 8-19 overall and 1-11 in the OVC.
Three Skyhawks had multi-hit games, led by Matt Haynes’ three hits. Wade Collins extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate, while Nico Zych collected two hits as well. Luis Paublini also scored and drove in a run for UT Martin (8-19, 1-11 Ohio Valley Conference).
Sophomore starter Dalton Potts produced a quality start but was charged with the loss. The left-hander out of Greenfield allowed three runs on six hits while fanning three over six frames. John Houston and Chris Ross also made one-inning relief appearances for the Skyhawks.
Potts shut down Southeast Missouri for the first two innings, retiring the side in order in the second inning. The Redhawks scored a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 lead.
UT Martin bounced right back with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Collins singled with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Paublini then crushed a double down the right field line to get the Skyhawks on the scoreboard. Haynes followed with a single through the right side to plate Paublini and even the score at 2-all.
Potts then got back in a zone, conceding only one hit over the next three shutout innings. He worked his way out of a jam in the sixth by inducing an infield popup and a big strikeout after Southeast Missouri placed runners on second and third with one out.
The Skyhawks had a man in scoring position with one out in the seventh but couldn’t take the advantage. Southeast Missouri took a 3-2 lead on a solo homer to lead off the seventh before Houston entered the game and finished out the inning, not allowing the Redhawks to expand on their one-run lead.
Morris and Collins led off the eighth with back-to-back singles for UT Martin and advanced to scoring position after a sacrifice bunt by Paublini, but the Skyhawks couldn’t scratch out a run.
Southeast Missouri added four runs in the eighth and UT Martin could not stage a comeback in the ninth inning.
The Skyhawks close out a four-game road trip today when they play at Evansville at 6 p.m.
THURSDAY’S GAME
SEMO 8, UTM 5
For UT Martin, Byron Johann wasted little time extending his 12-game hitting streak, doubling in the top of the first inning.
The senior outfielder ended his night going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored, while senior Wade Collins added a pair of RBI. Sophomore Nico Zych also hit his first career home run and Brent Morris scored.
On the mound, senior starting pitcher Dan Tobik (1-3) suffered the loss after allowing eight runs in 51⁄3 innings.
FRIDAY’S GAME
SEMO 9, UTM 6
Brent Morris went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Collins drove in a pair of runs as well.
Taylor Cox was hit with the loss after allowing eight runs (three earned) in 32⁄3 innings.

Published in The WCP 4.2.13