Skyhawks Grab First Win of New Season In Doubleheader Against Butler

MARTIN, Tenn.- The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team captured its first victory in the 2026 season in a doubleheader against Butler. The Bulldogs were able to win in extra innings in the first contest, 10-7, but it was the Skyhawks who came through with clutch hitting in the second game to win 9-8.

Game 1: BU 10, UTM 7

TJ Grines (two doubles, one RBI) started his senior season by leading UT Martin (1-1) in hits with three while TJ Dunsford (two doubles, one RBI), JT Popick (double) and Cameron Greene all tallied multi-hit games.

Jacob Sitton made the start and struck out four batters over 3.1 innings of work. Newcomer Will Turner entered from the bullpen and delivered 5.1 innings to pair with six punchouts while Gehrig Wright (0-1) threw 1.1 innings and struck out one.

Sitton made it a 1-2-3 first inning with two strikeouts before his offense brought home the season's first run on a Dunsford ground out to score Grines. The Bulldogs (1-1) took their first lead of the game in the second then the aggressive Skyhawk offense brought home three runs in the second to claim the advantage.

Butler plated the leading run in the top of the third but was held scoreless for the next five innings by Turner. UT Martin added a run in the sixth and seventh to carry the edge into the ninth however a late Bulldog rally helped the road team prevail in Game 1.