The Skyhawk baseball team opened up home play against the University of Evansville Purple Aces on Mar. 4, but ultimately fell 5-3 after a four-run seventh inning.
Going into the matchup, the Skyhawks had a distinct advantage on the pitching mound. Sophomore right-handed pitcher (RHP) Seth Petry got the start against the Purple Aces while on a 5.1 inning hot streak from the Skyhawks previous matchups.
Over his past 5.1 innings dating back to Fe, 19 against Alabama A&M, Petry allowed only one earned run to go along with six strikeouts. Petry continued his dominant play against Evansville, striking out three batters over his three inning pitched to go along with a no-hitter.
After a scoreless first inning by both sides, the Skyhawks drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning thanks to an RBI double by junior infielder (IF) Andruw McKenzie to give UTM a 1-0 lead. However, offensive production ceased on from both teams through the next three innings.
Evansville caught back up to UTM in the top of the sixth inning after Danny Borgstrom of the Purple Aces hit an RBI single down left field, locking the two teams up at 1-1. After another quiet inning by UTM’s offense, Evansville found their stride on put on the pressure.
The top of the seventh inning opened up with a two-RBI double by Evansville’s Mason Brinkley that also put the Purple Aces in position to score again with a runner on third. A single by Tanner Craig sent that runner home and resulted in Brinkley landing on third. Borgstrom returned to the scoresheet with a sacrifice fly that sent Brinkley home to close out the top of the seventh.
Facing a 5-1 deficit, the Skyhawks responded in the bottom of the seventh with RBIs by freshman outfielder (OF) Christian Hall and junior IF Casey Harford, but that was the end of UTM’s offensive production for the rest of the game, leaving the Skyhawks at 3-5.
The Skyhawks rolled with seven pitchers on the afternoon, but ultimately freshman Mitchell Ford (0-1) was credited with the loss with three total runs (two earned) allowed. Mitchell was subbed out by senior RHP David Hussey in the top of the seventh during a bases-loaded situation.
The Skyhawks (4-8) will open up home and conference play on Mar. 6 against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks (7-6).
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