By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team led through four frames today but back-to-back big innings by Toledo proved to be the difference in an 8-3 setback at Skyhawk Field.
UT Martin starting pitcher J. Henry Hobson (1-1) breezed through four shutout innings and was one pitch away from a fifth before the Rockets hit a go-ahead three-run home run. The Skyhawks were again one out from throwing up another zero on the scoreboard in the sixth but Toledo scored four runs in the frame.
Hobson’s final line was not a true indicator of how well he pitched as the sophomore from Fort Myers, Fla. went 5.1 innings. Eric Steensma then appeared in relief and finished out the game, throwing 3.1 innings of one-run ball while allowing just two hits.
At the plate, Blaze Bell went 2-for-5 for his fourth multi-hit effort of the young season. Caleb Hobson drew three walks and had an RBI with a run scored while Andrew Fernandez also drove in a run. Will Smith and Cameron Brady each scored one run apiece for UT Martin (3-10).
Henry Hobson stranded a runner on third base in the top of the first, inducing an infield popup and groundout after the Rocket baserunner was 90 feet away from scoring.
The Skyhawks saw three batters reach safely in the bottom of the first (Caleb Hobson walk, Fernandez single, Bell single) but could not get on the scoreboard.
Henry Hobson needed just seven pitches to retire the side in the second, getting help from his defense with an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
UT Martin grabbed a 2-0 lead after the bottom of the second thanks to a patient approach at the plate. Smith was issued a leadoff walk and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nate Self. The next three Skyhawk batters (Brady, Alec Beaman, Caleb Hobson) each drew walks as Caleb Hobson’s came with the bases loaded to make the score 1-0. Two batters later, Fernandez was pitched around for an RBI walk, plating Brady.
It was three-up, three-down for Toledo in the top of the third as J. Henry Hobson retired the side in order on 14 pitches. J. Henry Hobson followed that with another scoreless frame in the fourth, working around back-to-back singles to start off the inning.
Henry Hobson got two quick outs in the fifth before the next three Rocket hitters reached base, culminating in UT Martin’s 3-2 deficit. In the sixth, Toledo connected on a grand slam to go on top by a 7-2 margin.
The Skyhawks nearly got back in it in the bottom of the sixth. Smith led things off with a single before pinch hitter Jonah Wichman drew a walk. Caleb Hobson was then hit by a pitch to load the bases but the Rockets escaped a potential UT Martin rally.
After entering the game in the sixth, Steensma came back out for the seventh and retired the side in order on only 11 pitches. The redshirt junior from Western Springs, Ill. then kept Toledo off the scoreboard in the eighth with a 13-pitch inning, wrapping up the frame with a strikeout.
Following two early outs in the top of the ninth, the Rockets added an insurance run to go ahead 8-2.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information