MARTIN, Tenn. – Little Rock makes its final Ohio Valley Conference regular-season road trip this weekend, and it also happens to be the shortest trip of the year, as the Trojans travel to face UT Martin with the OVC regular-season title race still very much in play.
The Trojans enter the weekend at 28-21 overall and 14-7 in league play, sitting alone in third place just one game behind co-leaders SIUE and Eastern Illinois. The race tightens even further this weekend as SIUE and Eastern Illinois square off against each other, creating a pivotal opportunity in the conference standings.
SIUE claimed two of three games from Little Rock earlier this season, while the Trojans swept Eastern Illinois last month at Gary Hogan Field. With only one regular-season weekend remaining after this series, every game carries major implications in the battle for the OVC championship.
GAME INFO
Who: Little Rock (28-21, 14-7) at UT Martin (24-24, 9-12)
When: Friday 5 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.
Where: Skyhawk Baseball Field (Martin, Tenn. )
Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: lrtrojans.com
SERIES HISTORY
Little Rock leads the series 27-10.
COACH SPEAK
"We expect a very challenging series at UT Martin," Little Rock head coach
Chris Curry said. "They are currently leading the OVC in offense and run a very pressure-style running attack."
TROJAN TIDBITS
•
Nic Bronzini was the OVC Pitcher of the Week the league announced Monday. Bronzini delivered a dominant outing Sunday, working eight shutout innings to lead Little Rock to a 4-0 win over Morehead State. The left-hander scattered four hits — all singles — while walking two and striking out eight. He was in complete control early, retiring 20 of the first 23 batters he faced.He is the scheduled starter this Sunday for the Trojans.
•Little Rock is No. 3 in the OVC in fielding with a .976 percentage. That mark is also good for No. 50 nationally.
•The Trojans are No. 2 in the OVC in shutouts and No. 22 nationally.
SCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS
•Seven seniors will be recognized in a pregame ceremony prior to Saturday's game.
•The Skyhawks have put together one of the most productive offensive seasons in program history, setting school records for home runs (17), runs scored (385), stolen bases (128), doubles (119) and RBIs (348).
•UT Martin also ranks fifth in program history with nine saves this season.
•The Skyhawk offense ranks among the nation's best, sitting fourth nationally in doubles, seventh in batting average (.321), seventh in hits and 12th in stolen bases.
•UT Martin ranks third in the OVC in walks allowed per nine innings at 4.24 and has recorded three complete games this season.
•Reigning OVC Player of the Week TJ Grines has delivered a standout senior campaign, leading the nation with 57 stolen bases while sitting one shy of the OVC single-season record.
•TJ Dunsford and Colten Payton have combined to drive in 110 runs this season, as Dunsford has totaled 58 RBIs and Payton has added 52.
•Both Dunsford and Payton are closing in on the UT Martin single-season RBI record of 64, set by Hall of Famer Wes Patterson in 2010.
•Gabe Bryant and Mason Little have combined for seven saves this season, with both pitchers ranking among the OVC's top 10 in saves.
