Box Score MARTIN, Tenn. ? Tennessee-Martin (9-10) used three home runs, including a fourth-inning grand slam, to hand the UALR baseball team (7-15) a 12-3 defeat on Wednesday evening at Skyhawk Field. Drew Mason drove in four runs, fueled by a three-run homer in the second, and Miles Hartsfield went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBI to lead the Skyhawks to the two-game series sweep.
The Trojans took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as consecutive sacrifice flies by juniors Nate Brown and Tyson Parks scored seniors Kody Kroll and Matt Apfel, but UALR mustered just one more run on the night. Mason put UTM on top for good with his three-run homer in the second, and Miles Hartsfield gave the Skyhawks all the insurance runs they would need with his grand slam in the fourth.
UTM starter Tanner Hensley improved to 3-1 on the year by holding the Trojans to six hits and two runs over 6.0 innings of work. Hensley issued five free passes during his outing, but followed up a rocky first inning with five shutout frames.
Junior Alex Smith (0-2) took the loss for UALR after allowing nine hits and 11 runs (nine earned) over 3.1 innings. Juniors JR Boling, Anthony Pryor and Gavin Gray pitched well in relief of Smith, combining to hold the Skyhawks to just two hits and one run over the final 4.2 innings.
Apfel was one of four Trojans to record a multi-hit game in the loss, leading UALR with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate. Kroll went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a double, while Brown paced the squad with two RBI.
UALR returns to action this weekend when it welcomes Middle Tennessee to Gary Hogan Field for a three-game series beginning Friday night at 6 p.m.
