Skyhawk baseball started its home season off with a 5-4, 10th inning, victory over Martin Methodist College Friday afternoon.

The action started in the second when Methodist scored the first run after a passed ball on UTM catcher Chris Rezabeck put a MMC runner in scoring position. A single to right brought him in and put MMC up 1-0.

Methodist increased their lead in the top of the third on two singles and two sacrifices, bringing the score to 3-0.

The UTM offense came alive during its half of the inning when shortstop Jason Moore and left fielder Zane Gresback got on base on a pair of walks.

After an error put Moore on third, center fielder Zack Dean doubled down the right field line, knocking in the two base runners. Second baseman Nick Bruner then singled to center field to bring in Dean, tying the score at 3-all.

Both teams were scoreless until the top of the fifth when Methodist first baseman Jesse Thorton homered to put the Redhawks back on top, 4-3.

The Skyhawks seemed unable to mount the comeback until the bottom of the ninth, only being able to muster up two hits in the sixth, seventh, and eighth combined.

Gresback got the playing started in the ninth by doubling to left center and then reaching third on a force out at first by Bruner. Right fielder Nick Luper walked and reached second on a poor decision by Methodist catcher Mark Nichting who, when Luper and Gresback both got a lead off, attempted to throw out Luper. This allowed Gresback to steal home, sending the game into extra innings.

The 10th inning started with the Redhawks not being able to connect for any hits, and only having one baserunner who reached on an error.

The Skyhawks took to the plate and after a left field pop-out by Hideaki Sato, who replaced Bruner in the batting line-up, a pinch-hit double by Douglas Nicodemus found UTM with a runner in scoring position.

Keeping his momentum from the ninth, Gresback played the hero yet again, tacking on another hit to bring in Nicodemus for the win.

“I’m just happy to have gotten the start and have the opportunity to contribute,” said Gresback on his performance Friday.

Dean had the most RBI’s for UTM with two, and Bruner also brought in one with his two hits.

Martin native Micky Dobson picked up the win, pitching four relief innings, giving up just one hit and one walk to the 15 batters he faced.

He relieved Justin Bryant who pitched six strong innings, allowing only one walk and ten hits to 29 Redhawks.

The win over MMC puts the Skyhawks record at 1-4, after dropping a three-game series to Louisiana-Monroe and one game to Vanderbilt.

The Skyhawks travel today to face the Arkansas State at 3 p.m. They will then return home for a single game against Memphis on Wednesday at 2 p.m. and a three game series against Western Illinois over the weekend. Both the double-header on Saturday and the single game on Sunday start at noon.