UT Martin Baseball Game Notes
GAME INFORMATION Games 1-3 0-0 (0-0) Location...... Mobile, Ala. Ball Park....Hoover Metropolitan Complex St. Louis Billikens Capacity...... 10,800 2020 Record: 0-0 2019 Record: 25-30 (13-11) Did You Know? Conference: Atlantic 10 * The Hoover Metropolitan Complex is the annual host of SEC Championship Tournament. UTM Starting Pitchers
* This is the first time that UT Martin will play a game at this ballpark. OPPONENT INFORMATION Location...... Saint Louis, Mo Conference...... Atlantic 10 Stadium (Capacity)...... Billiken Sports Center (500) #22 Winston Cannon #14 Sam Folks TBA Head Coach...... Darin Hendrickson 2020: (0-0), ---- ERA 2020: (0-0), ---- ERA AlmaMater...... SLU-Edwardsville 2019: (6-9), 5.83 ERA 2019: (5-6), 4.63 ERA Career Record (Years)...... 877-462 (25th year) School Record (Years)...... 387-291 (13th year) 2019 Record (Conference)...... 25-30 (13-11) All-Time Series...... SLU leads 13-11 UTM Top Returners Series Streak...... L1 UTM vs SLU in St. Louis/Martin:...... 5-7/6-6 #4 Ethan Whitley 10 Home runs/ .360 Slugging %/ .993 Fielding % #9 Sean Dixson STORIES TO KNOW .276 Batting average/ .345 on base %/ 10 doubles - Nick Wohlbold was named UT Martin’s first ever preseason All-American. #21 Casey Harford .312 Batting average/ 45 RBIs/ 64 Hits - Coach Jenkins is the 11th youngest coach in Division I. #22 Winston Cannon - Junior Blake Davis has started ever game except one in his career for the Skyhawks. 6 Wins/ 77 Strikeouts/ 78.2 Innings pitched - UT Martin boasts a youthful team as they have 21 #33 Nick Wohlbold newcomers on this year’s roster. 13 Saves/ 3.03 ERA/ .244 Batting average against - Winston Cannon ranks second in school history for starts, 38, and third for strikeouts, 191.
Overall 0-0 Games 1-3 • Feb. 14-16 Overall 0-0 1 The Skyhawk Facts
UNIVERSITY QUICK FACTS Founded: 1900; Senior College, 1951 Enrollment: 7,296 Nickname: Skyhawks Colors: Navy Blue and Orange Affiliation: NCAA Division I Conference: Ohio Valley Chancellor: Dr. Keith Carver Director of Athletics: Kurt McGuffin Athletics Web Site: www.UTMSports.com
UTM BASEBALL PERSONNEL Head Coach: Ryan Jenkins Alma Mater: Auburn, 2014 Career Record: 36-71, Third season Record at UTM: 36-71 E-Mail Address: [email protected] Office Telephone:(731) 881-3691
UTM BASEBALL QUICK FACTS 2019 Overall Record: 25-31 2019 Conference Record (Finish): 12-18 (8th) Postseason: OVC Tournament Players Returning/Lost: 18/16 Newcomers: 21 Stadium (Capacity): Skyhawk Field (500) Dimensions: Lines 330 feet/Alleys 365 feet/CF 385 feet Surface: Natural Grass First Year of Baseball: 1957 All-Time Baseball Record: 1080-1379-11 All-Time Record at Skyhawk Field: 448-449-3 All-Time OVC Record: 183-494-2 All-Time OVC Tournament Record: 2-7 OVC Tournament Appearances: 4 Last OVC Tournament Appearance: 2019
UTM SPORTS INFORMATION Sports Info. Intern/Baseball Contact: Trent Spinner E-Mail Address: [email protected] Office Phone: (731) 881-7632 Cell Phone: (816) 752-5423 Fax Number: (731) 881-7624
2 Games 1-3 • Feb. 14-16 Overall 0-0 UTM Roster No. Name Position B/T Height Weight Class Hometown / Previous School 1 Billy Edwards INF L/R 5-8 185 Jr. Lakeland, Tenn. (Evangelical Christian School) 2 Thomas Fullerton OF L/L 5-10 185 Fr. Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Mount Juliet HS) 3 Ethan Whitley INF R/R 6-1 225 Jr. Mason, Tenn. (Covington HS) 4 Blake Davis C R/R 6-0 225 Jr. Crandall, Ga. (North Murray HS) 5 Noah Thigpen INF R/R 6-0 200 So. Jackson, Miss. (Jackson Academy) 7 Jack Culumovic UTIL L/R 6-0 185 Fr. Simpsonville, SC (Pensacola State college) 8 David Hussey RHP R/R 6-2 195 Sr. Minter, Ala. (Georgia Highlands College) 9 Sean Dixson OF R/R 6-0 185 R-Sr. Norman, Okla. (Murray State College) 10 Andruw McKenzie INF L/R 5-11 195 R-Jr. Burleson, Texas (Fort Scott CC) 11 Warren Lee LHP R/L 6-2 200 Fr. Mount Juliet, Tenn. (Mount Juliet HS) 12 Christian Hall OF L/L 6-2 230 Fr. Calera, Ala. (Calera HS) 13 Wil LaFollette INF L/L 5-10 220 Fr. Chelsea, Ala. (Heritage Christian Academy) 14 Sam Folks LHP R/L 5-11 190 Sr. Franklin, Tenn. (Battle Ground Academy) 15 Baylor Jones INF R/R 6-0 205 Fr. Spring Hill, Tenn. (Grace Christian Academy) 16 Chance Merithew C R/R 6-2 170 Fr. Goodlettsville, Tenn. (Greenbrier HS) 17 Andy Horne C R/R 5-10 200 Sr. Columbia, Tenn. (Hiwassee College) 18 Nate Self INF R/R 6-2 210 Fr. Sikeston, Mo. (Sikeston HS) 19 Dawson Moncrief C R/R 6-2 215 Jr. Prattville, Ala. (Wallace CC Selma) 21 Casey Harford INF R/R 6-0 185 Jr. Cordova, Tenn. (Harding Academy) 22 Winston Cannon RHP R/R 6-3 210 Sr. Cookeville, Tenn. (Upperman HS) 23 Blake Daniels INF L/R 6-1 195 R-Jr. Marked Tree, Ark. (Southwest Tennessee CC) 27 Hayden Cooper UTIL R/R 6-4 200 So. Wentzville, Mo. (Holt HS) 28 Houston Wright UTIL L/L 6-3 215 Jr. Gaffney, SC (Spartanburg Methodist College) 29 Eric Steensma RHP R/R 6-2 205 Fr. Western Springs, Ill. (Lyons Township HS) 30 Jefferey O’Doherty RHP R/R 6-4 245 Sr. Omaha, Neb. (CWabash Valley College) 31 Marek Bauner RHP R/R 6-2 170 Fr. Crown Point, Ind. (Crown Point HS) 33 Nick Wohlbold RHP R/R 6-2 195 Jr. Columbia, Mo. (Rock Bridge HS) 34 Ryan Insco RHP R/R 6-0 185 Fr. Kirkwood, Mo. (St. John Vianney HS) 35 Boston Smith LHP L/L 6-2 170 Fr. Birmingham, Ala. (Oak Mountain HS) 38 Wesley Bomar LHP L/L 6-0 185 Fr. Paris, Tenn. (Henry County HS) 42 Mitchell Ford RHP/OF R/R 6-1 190 Fr. Lewisburg, Tenn. (Marshall County HS) 43 Trey Ricko RHP R/R 6-2 190 So. Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield South HS) 44 Austin Kasick LHP L/L 6-0 195 Fr. Thompson’s Station, Tenn. (Grace Christian Academy) 46 Jack Knight RHP R/R 6-3 200 Jr. Rehobeth, Ala. (Wallace CC) 47 Seth Petry RHP R/R 6-0 180 So. Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Siegel HS) 55 Matthew Shunk RHP R/R 6-1 195 Sr. Burleson, Texas (Savannah State) Drew Bell RHP R/R 6-1 160 Fr. Martin, Tenn. (Westview HS) Preston Jones C/INF R/R 6-1 195 Fr. Trussville, Ala. (Bessemer Academy)
6 Head Coach: Ryan Jenkins (Auburn, 2014), Third season 20 Assistant Coach: Matt Heath (LSU, 2002), Second season 25 Assistant Coach: Hunter Morris (Auburn,2017), Second season Volunteer Assistant: Caleb Brewer (UT Martin, 2019), Second season Student Assistant: Jordan Stoner, First season Student Assistant: Austen Bullington, First season Student Assistant: Reid Pope, First season
Overall 0-0 Games 1-3 • Feb. 14-16 Overall 0-0 3 Head Coach Ryan Jenkins
Ryan Jenkins is in his third season as head coach of the University of Tennessee at Martin base- ball program in 2020. He was named to the position on April 17, 2018 after serving as interim head coach for the previous four months.
Last spring, Jenkins oversaw arguably the program’s best season as a Division I member. The Skyhawks tied for their most victories in the Division I Era (since 1993) and not only advanced to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship tournament for just the fourth time in school history, but also won their opening round game - marking the second postseason win since joining the Division I ranks.
UT Martin shattered school records in OVC wins (12), games played (56), fielding percentage (.969), putouts (1,441), saves (17), in- nings pitched (480.1) and pitching strikeouts (431) in 2019. The Skyhawk offense crushed 48 home runs (third-most in school history) and also pitched to the school’s lowest single-season ERA since 2006, leading the OVC with five shutouts.
Jenkins coached a pair of 2019 All-OVC second team selections in Jordan Stoner and Nick Wohlbold. Stoner became the first Skyhawk to ever take home back-to-back All-OVC accolades and just the second player in UT Martin history to win two All-OVC selections in a career. Wohlbold ranked 11th nationally with 13 saves and was just the third UT Martin pitcher to ever earn an All-OVC nod (first since 2010).
In his first year at UT Martin, Jenkins helped mold a trio of All-OVC honorees in Stoner (first team), Blake Davis (All-Newcomer) and Ethan Whitley (All-Newcomer). He led the squad to victories over No. 13 ranked Southern Miss and against Tennessee Tech (who finished ranked No. 11 nationally after winning 53 games and advancing to a NCAA Super Regional).
Whitley would also go on to be named a Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Freshman All-American in 2018. He was one of only nine first basemen in the nation to collect the prestigious award while he became just the fifth Skyhawk to collect Freshman All-American status.
Jenkins joined the UT Martin staff in July after spending the 2017 season at the College of Charleston, where he served as an assistant under head coach Matt Heath working with both hitters and pitchers. Jenkins coached five All-Colonial Athletic Association honorees and also tutored a Major League Baseball draft pick in 2017.
A Millbrook, Ala. native, Jenkins was a four-year letterman for the Auburn Tigers from 2006-10 as a catcher, playing under head coach- es Tom Slater and John Pawlowski. Jenkins also learned under former Auburn assistants Link Jarrett, Chris Finwood, Jeff Duncan and Butch Thompson – who are all now Division-I head coaches. During his playing days at Auburn, Jenkins shared the diamond with four future MLB players – including 2015 American League Most Valuable Player Josh Donaldson.
Jenkins was named to the All-Southeastern Conference team in 2010 after hitting .365 with seven home runs and 34 RBI while making 48 starts behind the plate. He helped lead the Tigers to a 43-21 record as a senior, earning a spot on the NCAA Regional All-Tourna- ment team.
A career .304 hitter over 138 collegiate games, Jenkins currently ranks eighth all-time in Auburn history in caught stealing by with 28 runners thrown out. He also excelled in the classroom, earning a spot on the 2009 All-SEC Academic team.
Jenkins was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 17th round of the 2010 MLB Draft and went on to play in the Royals’ minor league system from 2010-12. He played in 118 games over a three-year span, throwing out 49 would-be base stealers. Head Coaching Record Overall: 36-71 In 2013, Jenkins returned to Auburn to complete his bachelor’s degree in sociology while serving as a student assistant during the 2014 season and a strength and conditioning coach 2018...... 11-40 in 2015-16. 2019...... 25-31 4 Games 1-3 • Feb. 14-16 Overall 0-0 2019 Statistics
Overall 0-0 Games 1-3 • Feb. 14-16 Overall 0-0 5 SEASON OUTLook
A year removed from the University from the batters box. Now that Stoner, There he posted a .442 batting of Tennessee at Martin’s historic along with other senior leaders, average to match his 11 home runs in season, the Skyhawks baseball graduated, UT Martin is looking for his two-year career, which lead him program is reloaded with a fresh set a options from their youth. With to be ranked the No. 5 third baseman of faces to make their way back to the one of the best-recruiting classes the in Missouri. While Steensma wasn’t OVC tournament. program has seen, that opportunity is thought of as a powerhouse prospect available for coach Jenkins. like the other two, his numbers speak Last year the Skyhawks had their for himself as he posted a 2.15 ERA minds set on history as head coach “I think for us each day is just with a 6-1 record in 2019. Regardless, Ryan Jenkins took the helm for his first getting better,” coach Jenkins said. UT Martin will need to see these full year (came in as an interim coach “If We have the development with young guys to replicate their success for the final 18 games of the 2018 our pitchers and our offense, if we at the Division I level to win ball season). They didn’t disappoint as continue to get just a little bit better games. the baseball club tied a single-season each day, the results will take care of record for Division I victories at 25. themselves.” “We have a very young group, my They boasted a unique cast, but in expectation for those guys is just to the end, all that mattered was coming The recruiting class from last season get better every day, you can’t put to together for the end result as they features an assortment of both much weight on those young guys,” claimed four of the last five during the transfers and now current freshmen. Jenkins said. “The thing for them is regular season. This allowed them to It has given the UT Martin coaches they have to develop on a daily basis; claim the final available spot in the chances they never had before to a lot of them haven’t been put in OVC baseball tournament. dabble with various lineups to find the fire; none of them have played that flow of success. Last season, the Division I baseball, so its a different Senior outfielder Jordan Stoner led team featured 33 players, now with experience.” that team as he claimed leadership 16 of those players gone 21 have over many of the statistical categories come to take their place, giving the It isn’t just the freshmen that are set Skyhawks a full gameday to impact the Skyhawks, but half of roster of 35. the success will have to come from their new transfers. In right field, Every position is up for junior Houston Wright seems to be a debate heading into the heavy set favorite to be batting clean- season, but what isn’t up. The junior came to Martin from debatable is the talent of Spartanburg Methodist College. At their young core. Headlining Spartanburg, Wright combined for a the group of freshmen .371 batting average, 19 home runs is three players that are and 90 RBIs in his 100 game career. currently projected as Along with his impressive statistics, starters for the Skyhawks. Wright was named an NJCAA All- They sit as followed: American in 2019. Christian Hall in the outfield, Nate Self at third base and Joining Wright as possible players to Eric Steensma as a starter take those open spots in the lineup in the four-man rotation. are the junior Andruw McKenzie and Hall is explicitly viewed as a the sophomore Jack Culumovic. While possible leader of the team McKenzie is by trade an infielder as he was ranked the No. that focuses mostly on second base, 2 outfield prospect in the Culumovic is set to move around State of Alabama coming a little more. Culumovic is a utility out of high school. Self isn’t player/infielder that tends to stay in Junior first baseman Ethan Whitley will renew his far behind as he made an the field and is set to be moved all position for another year as he is tasked with being easy trip from Sikeston High around the diamond. a leader after slugging 10 homeruns last seasaon. School to attend UT Martin. 6 Games 1-3 • Feb. 14-16 Overall 0-0 SEASON OUTLOOK
light on where we need While those three guys have made to develop, and it will also their impact known at Skyhawk eliminate guys that have Park, relief pitcher Nick Wohlbold anxiety on the baseball has established a national brand for field.” himself. The right-hander was named the first preseason All-American in While the young guys will school history, as well as being the have their chance to hit only preseason All-OVC selection for the mound and the batters the Skyhawks. These honors came box, the veterans are in after Wohlbold was one of the two charge of helping them selections for the Second Team transition to Division I. The All-OVC after last season (Stoner). senior class is smaller on Wohlbold ranked 11th in the NCAA the offensive end as Sean with saves at 13, which was also a Dixson straps up for his school record. His ERA of 3.03 led the final season at Skyhawk team last year, which meant every Park. Dixson is the most time he came to the mound with a likely candidate for the lead, it was almost a guaranteed win. leadoff position as he poses the most significant “It’s always great to have a guy you Senior Sean Dixson will play a vital role as he threat of reaching base can trust on the backside of a baseball will serve as the leadoff hitter for the Skyhawks. quickly after slashing .276 game,” Jenkins said. “I think anytime last season. Two four you have a guy that is throwing out year players will lead the the bullpen... the biggest thing you Regardless of what role each player is pitching staff this year as Sam Folks can ask for is consistency. When we playing, the young guys will start their and Winston Cannon both wrap up put him in the baseball game, we Division I career by facing some of the their time with UT Martin. Cannon know what we are going to get out of best of the best. After a three-game has especially made is impact known him, it’s a certain type of mentality to series with St. Louis University and a as he sits second in school history pitch in high-pressure situations like one-game stint against Alabama A&M, for career starts, 38, and third in he does.” the Skyhawks will face a real test in strikeouts, 191. Reliever David Hussey the South Alabama Invitational. There will also be seeing his two-year career With a reasonably inexperienced they will start against the University finish up as he heads into his senior team, there is a decent amount of of Indiana, the Hoosiers last season season. unknowns heading into the season. claimed the Big Ten regular-season Coach Jenkins knows this but title with a total record of 37-23. Out of all the classes, it is the junior understands their talent as he sets After an early test, the Skyhawks will class that is the defining unit for the his sights high in his third year at the have to deal with a periodic matchup Skyhawks. Catcher Blake Davis, first helm. against SEC opponents, including the baseman Ethan Whitley and shortstop College World Series participants, Casey Harford are all set to renew “The expectation is what it is, and that Mississippi State. Jenkins knows that their roles in the starting lineup. This is to win the OVC,” Jenkins said. “Our these games will test everyone, but is Davis’ third year as a starter after league is a bid league; if we want to all eyes are on how the young guys only not starting one game in his play in the NCAA regionals, we have react to this level of competition. career for UT Martin. Whitley returns to win our league, for me, we need
as the home run leader from a season to start developing guys and got to “One thing is the atmosphere you ago, when he bashed 10 out of the make sure these guys understand take a guy that has never played park. Harford is the most dynamic of how to play.” Division I baseball game, and you take the three as he placed second among him to Oxford, Mississippi (Ole Miss), almost all batting categories behind and there are seven thousand people Stoner, while also leading the team there its a different ball game,” with 45 RBIs. Jenkins said. “It will start to shine a
Overall 0-0 Games 1-3 • Feb. 14-16 Overall 0-0 7