Arguably the toughest schedule in the history of the UTM baseball program awaits the Skyhawks in 2020 as third-year head coach Ryan Jenkins unveiled the 55-game slate on Jan. 8.
UTM is set to face seven squads who advanced to the postseason last year, including five NCAA Regional participants, one NCAA Super Regional participant and one of eight teams to advance to the NCAA College World Series. The Skyhawks’ 2020 schedule is dotted with 10 teams who are either ranked or receiving votes in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll.
The 2020 season officially begins on Feb. 14-16 when UTM travels to Birmingham, Alabama, for a neutral-site series against St. Louis. The three-game set will take place at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium, the annual site of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Baseball Tournament.
A home-and-home series against Alabama A&M starts with the road matchup on Feb. 19 before the Skyhawks take part in the South Alabama Invitational on Feb. 21-22. UTM will take on Indiana (2019 NCAA Regional qualifier) for the first time ever, South Alabama (preseason ranked No. 23) and first-time opponent Siena in Mobile, Alabama.
A midweek matchup at Alabama is set for Feb. 25 before a three-game road series at 2019 NCAA Regional participant Mercer will take place on Feb. 28-March 1. The first of two meetings against Evansville in 2020 is set for March 3, marking the 12th consecutive game at a road or neutral site to start the Skyhawks’ season.
The Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and home opener is set for March 6 with Southeast Missouri (SEMO) traveling to UTM for a three-day series.
The Skyhawks go back on the road for their next five games, beginning with a March 10 matchup at Central Arkansas. An OVC set against Belmont on March 13-15 follows before UTM squares off against 2019 NCAA Super Regional qualifier Ole Miss on the road (March 17).
A home OVC series against Eastern Kentucky (EKU) (March 20-22) is next on the schedule before the Skyhawks clash against UTK (2019 NCAA Regional participant) on March 24. The outing against the Volunteers will take place at Smokies Stadium in Kodak – home of the Tennessee Smokies, the Chicago Cubs’ Double-A affiliate.
UTM wraps up the month of March with an OVC series at Morehead State (March 27-29) before a quick home midweek matchup against Evansville on April 1. The Skyhawks spend a non-conference weekend at Cincinnati from April 3-5, as the Bearcats are coming off an American Athletic Conference championship and NCAA Regional appearance last spring.
On April 7, UTM pays a visit to preseason No. 6 Mississippi State, who won 52 games en route to a berth in the NCAA College World Series last season.
The Skyhawks return home for an OVC series against Southern Illinois – Edwardsville (SIUE) on April 9-11 before traveling to Kentucky on April 14. A league set at Austin Peay follows on April 17-19.
A season-long five-game home-stand puts the finishing touches on the month of April. UTM faces in-state foe Christian Brothers on April 22 before hosting OVC rival EIU on April 24-26. The final home midweek contest of the season is scheduled for April 28 when the Skyhawks clash against Alabama A&M.
UTM makes a trip to defending OVC champion (and NCAA Regional qualifier) Jacksonville State on May 1-3. For the first time since 2004, the Skyhawks will battle Western Kentucky as UTM travels to Bowling Green, Kentucky, on May 5.
The last three home games of the season will take place on May 8-10 as the Skyhawks host OVC foe Murray State on Senior Weekend.
Once again, UTM and Memphis will take part in the WS “Babe” Howard Classic at USA Stadium in Millington on May 12. The Skyhawks then wrap up the regular season on May 14-16 with an OVC series at Tennessee Tech (TTU).
For the second consecutive season, the OVC Baseball Championship will be held at Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois The league’s premiere event is set for May 19-24.
