The Trojans' home slate comes to an end this weekend as they play host to a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series with the University of Tennessee-Martin starting on Friday and running through Sunday with Senior Day activities planned.
First pitch Friday is 6 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. Saturday game and 1 p.m., Sunday finale. Saturday's game is the annual Hometown Heroes contest sponsored by Crain Chevrolet. Up to four complimentary tickets are available for military and first responders. Call 501-916-5352 to secure tickets. The team's seniors will be celebrated Sunday as those players will throw out the ceremonial first pitches to their moms on Mother's Day.
All games will be streamed on ESPN+ with Max Coltrane on the call. Coltrane will have a special guest in the booth on Friday night as 16-year-old Dallas Cathey, a student at the Arkansas School of the Blind and Visually Impaired, will call some of the action.
The series is an important one for the Trojans as they sit in eighth place in the OVC. The Skyhawks are in seventh. Eight teams qualify for the OVC Tournament at Marion, Illl., later this month.
Little Rock (18-27, 7-11, OVC) is 29-9 all-time against UT Martin (18-29, 9-11 OVC). The Trojans have won 9 of the past 10 games in the series and have only lost to the Skyhawks once since joining the OVC two years ago. They own a 20-4 home record in the series.
The Skyhawks make the short trip across the border fresh off a series win over Southern Indiana.
UT Martin is led by two hitters, who own averages over the .300 mark. Aderrius Townsend, who leads the team with 10 home runs, hits .314 and Jalen Fithian owns a .309 average. Blaze Bell is not far behind hitting right at .300. Brody Capps, who hits .295, leads the team in RBI with 45 and three triples. The 45 runs driven in is good for third in the OVC.
The Skyhawks' pitching staff owns a 5.76 team ERA. All 12 of Jacob Sitton's games have been starts. He is 2-3 with a 5.31 ERA.
UTM's defense has struggled as they have committed 70 errors, which is the second-most in the OVC. The Skyhawks are nine of 10 in defense.
Little Rock has three more regular-season games following this one. The Trojans travel to Cape Girardeau, Mo., next Thursday for a three-game tilt with SEMO.
