MARTIN, Tenn. - Like long-shot Mine That Bird with jockey Calvin Borel on board took advantage of a sloppy track at Churchill Downs this past year to win the Kentucky Derby, The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team (8-5) made the best of a rain-soaked field with standing water throughout the outfield to end a three-game slide with an 8-6 victory over King College (7-7) Friday afternoon.

The Skyhawks took advantage of four King College errors, stole four bases and saw their first five hitters in the lineup collect nine hits in 15 at bats (.600). Senior Ty Nelson led the Skyhawks with his 3-for-5 effort at the plate and three RBI. Trey Karlen (pictured) and Cody Terry had two hits each, while leadoff hitter Jerron Casey was 1-for-3 at the plate and had three stolen bases.

Terry extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the fifth inning that plated Casey who drew a walk.

The Skyhawks jumped out front 5-2 after five innings, but King College rallied in the top of the sixth inning to score three runs and tie the game at 5-all. The Skyhawks broke the tie in the seventh inning.

In the seventh inning Karlen drew a walk and advanced to third on a throwing error by the King College pitcher. Karlen scored on a wild pitch. Terry followed with a double to right field and scored from second base on Nelson's single to center field and an error on the centerfielder. Wes Patterson added a single to center and advanced to second on the throw to plate where Nelson was tagged out by King catcher Josh Huffman.

The Skyhawks scored once in the eighth inning on a hit and an error and one of Casey's three stolen bases in the game.

Senior Coty Green made the start on the mound for the Skyhawks. He pitched five innings and scattered 10 hits. He gave up two earned runs.

King College roughed up UT Martin reliever Shawn Swaringen who pitched one-third of an inning and gave up two hits and one earned run. Freshman Dan Tobik pitched three-and-two- third innings. Tobik came in the game with one out and runners on first and second in the top of the sixth inning and immediately struck out the first two batters he faced. He opened the seventh inning with a strikeout and gave up three hits -- two singles and a home run. He picked up his first win of the season and struck out five in the game.

Justin Reising and Joe Craven had three hits each for the Tornado.

The Skyhawks and the Tornado will close out the two-game series at 1 p.m., Saturday at Skyhawk Field.

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