A 10-game homestead over the course of 13 days starts with two midweek games this week. Let’s take a look at Tuesday’s opponent, UT Martin, and Wednesday’s opponent, Middle Tennessee.
UT MARTIN
Designated hitter Christian Hall has a .417 batting average and drawn seven walks in seven games for an on-base percentage of .458. He’s by far the best bat the Skyhawks have thus far, but the hot bat belongs to first baseman Wil LaFollette. The Chelsea, Alabama, native got a pinch-hit hit in the first game last weekend, then got rewarded with two starts and went 3-for-8 with a RBI and a walk.
They are the only Skyhawks above .325, at .417 and .391, respectively. Shortstop Jack Culumovic and center fielder Sean Dixson are just below it at .323, both going 10-for-31; Dixson has been the primary power source with three home runs and a double on 10 hits.
If there is going to be more power, it’s likely to come from left fielder Houston Wright, who has been a low average (.222) but high power guy (four of six hits for extra bases: two doubles, a triple and a home run).
On the pitching side, the Skyhawks went by committee in their lone midweek game of the season thus far, against Alabama A&M, an 8-3 win. They were able to get their top four bullpen arms in that game, and two of them — Ryan Insco and Nick Wohlbold — have yet to allow a run over a combined 13 1/3 innings. Insco has allowed three hits and three walks over nine innings, and Wohlbold has allowed one hit and two walks over 4 1/3 while striking out nine.
Austin Kasick is the projected starter, and his one outing of the season did not go well: three hits, one walk and two runs allowed in 1 2/3 innings.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE
There isn’t a ton of power in this lineup — 10 doubles, one triple and two home runs for the entire team in seven games — but there is shortstop Fausto Lopez, hitting .375 near the bottom of the order for some reason.
The pitching, however, has been excellent. Projected starter Zach Keenan has two appearances under his belt: 6 2/3 excellent innings with one hit, one walk and one run allowed, eight strikeouts. (He has been a tad wild, with three hit batsmen.)
There are also several bullpen arms to watch out for. Walker Armstrong and Adam Link have pitched 3 2/3 and 3 innings, respectively, all in scoreless fashion. Jack Julian has pitched two innings with nothing more than a single hit allowed.
Reach Brett Hudson at 205-722-0196 or bhudson@tuscaloosanews.com or via Twitter, @Brett_Hudson
