The Skyhawk baseball squad kicked off the 2020 campaign with a three-game series against Atlantic-10 opponent the Saint Louis University Billikens out of St. Louis, Missouri, on Feb. 14 in Birmingham, Alabama.
UTM, despite an early 3-0 deficit, rallied back to win the team’s first season opener with head coach Ryan Jenkins at the position, according to Sports Information.
The Billikens made the Skyhawks pay early on by scoring a run in each of the first three innings to pin the Skyhawks down 3-0. UTM put an end to the one-sided affair thanks to senior outfielder (OF) Sean Dixson recording the team’s first home run of the season during the top of the fourth, putting the Skyhawks in a more favorable 1-3 deficit.
The Billikens failed to add on to their lead in the fourth and fifth innings, setting up a second home run by Dixson to put the Skyhawks within striking distance of Saint Louis. Freshman infielder (IF) Will LaFollette, making his debut with the Skyhawks, tripled and sent sophomore IF Noah Thigpen home, tying up the Skyhawks and Billikens at three-all.
Once again in the seventh inning, Dixson contributed to UTM’s offensive assault with a sacrifice fly ball to right field. Freshman IF Nate Self capitalized off of Dixson’s fly-out by running home and giving the Skyhawks their first lead of the game after being down 3-0 to start things off.
Senior right-handed pitcher (RHP) Winston Cannon, who started on the mound for UTM, was relived by freshman relief pitcher Ryan Insco, who also made his Skyhawk debut on the evening. Insco only gave up one hit over two innings pitched.
After four innings of struggling to get back on to the scoreboard, Sam Polk of the Billikens got Saint Louis back even with the Skyhawks with an RBI single in the eight inning. However, the Billikens broke down defensively in the ninth.
Going into the final inning, the Skyhawks and Billikens were knotted up in a 4-4 tie. With the Skyhawks being on the offensive side of the ball to start final stretch of the game, early signs of defensive struggles by Saint Louis emerged with a walk by Self, the leadoff runner for the Skyhawks.
Sophomore utility player Jack Culumovic singled and put Self on second. The Billikens opted not to test Dixson again and intentionally walked the batter that had already stacked up two home runs and 3 RBIs. UTM was put in a prime opportunity to take a major lead on Saint Louis with the bases loaded.
A first base error by Saint Louis IF Spencer Bloom allowed junior IF Casey Harford to get on base and give UTM a 5-4 lead while keeping the bases loaded. When Thigpen got up to bat shortly after, the Billikens’ pitcher sent four straight balls and put the sophomore on base and Culumovic home.
Another error put Dixson sent Dixson home and a wild pitch sent Harford running as well, giving UTM a sizable 8-4 lead that would remain standing at the end of the match.
Junior right-handed pitcher and Preseason All-American Nick Wohlbold sealed the deal for the Skyhawks, holding the Billikens scoreless in the bottom of the ninth.
The Skyhawks will finish off their three-game series against the Billikens over the next two days before taking on Alabama A&M on Feb. 19 in Huntsville, Alabama.
