No. 2 Vandy is UT Martin’s first stop

Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 12:00 pm

The UT Martin baseball team kicks off a five-game road trip with a matchup at No. 2 Vanderbilt out of the Southeastern Conference today at Charles Hawkins Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
This marks the fourth straight season that the Skyhawks have battled Vanderbilt. UT Martin’s lone victory over its in-state rival came on May 3, 1995, when it chalked up an 11-9 triumph in Nashville.
The Skyhawks (9-22) are coming off an Ohio Valley Conference weekend series against Belmont. UT Martin held its own against the league-leading Bruins, winning Game 2 of the series 9-8 after trailing by seven runs at one point. Offensively, the Skyhawks hit .295 for the series, led by senior Byron Johann (.455, 5-for-11).
Johann and fellow senior teammate Wade Collins pace UT Martin at the plate. Johann recently put together a 13-game hitting streak and ranks third in the OVC in batting average (.362) and 10th in slugging percentage (.532). Collins ranks fourth in the league in doubles (11) and also leads the team with three homers and 24 RBI’s.
On the mound, the Skyhawks will start junior right-hander Chris Ross (3-1, 2.93 ERA) as part of a staff day. Ross has been UT Martin’s most consistent hurler all season long, leading the team with 14 appearances.

Published in The WCP 4.9.13