PULASKI, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee Southern baseball team continued a seven game homestand hosting Oakwood on Tuesday. The game was moved up to a two p.m. start to race the incoming potential for bad weather. The Firehawks scored early and often handling the Ambassadors 21-3 in seven innings. UTS improved to 8-12 overall on the year.
UTS scored three in the opening frame after Austin Uptain fanned the side. Cody Womble singled to left center driving in Cannon Raby. Mason Billions singled to right knocking in Gattis Henley. Billions later scored on a wild pitch. UTS led 3-0 after one.
In the second, the Firehawks added another crooked number on the board, plating five. Brayden Buckner singled to right scoring Raby. Billions added four RBI with a grand slam to center. His blast scored Buckner, Henley, and Womble. UTS led 8-0 after two.
Oakwood took advantage of a pair of UTS errors to plate a pair of runs in the third. UT Southern added five more runs in the bottom half. Zach Hayes scored on a wild pitch. Grayson Willis scored on a Henley sacrifice fly. Billions singled to left center, for his third hit, scoring Buckner and Raby. Devin Buckhalter singled to right scoring Billions. UTS led 13-2 after three.
In the fourth, Finn Steele blasted a ball over the scoreboard in left driving in Willis. Buckner doubled to left center plating Jamil Betancourt. Buckner later scored on a balk. Gage Beckner singled to short scoring Zach Chaney. Steele got his second extra base hit in the inning, doubling to left, knocking in Hayes and Beckner. UTS led 20-2 after four.
Oakwood added another run on a pinch hit homer in the fifth. Hayes answered with a solo shot in the sixth.
Uptain (1-0) tossed four innings striking out nine Ambassadors. He only allowed one hit and 2 runs, unearned. Cooper Bailey (Sv. 1) closed out the game tossing the final three innings. He allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out four.
NEXT UP
The Firehawks will return to action at Bobby Walker Field on Friday, March 7, hosting Middle Georgia State for a weekend SSAC affair. First pitch is set for 5:30 p.m.
FOLLOW THE FIREHAWKS
Don't miss a minute of the latest action surrounding UTS Athletics by following the Firehawks on Twitter (@utsathletics), Instagram (@utsouthernathletics), and Facebook (@UT Southern Firehawks).