MOREHEAD, Ky. - Junior first baseman Wes Patterson connected on his 33rd career home run to become the all-time University of Tennessee at Martin home run leader today, but Morehead State rallied back from an 8-1 deficit to salvage the last game of the series, 10-9 at Allen Field.

Patterson, a Memphis native, connected on his 12th homer of the 2010 season in the first inning, which shot him ahead of Jim Willis (32 home runs in 1983-85) on the all-time career home run list. He also added another hit this afternoon for his 14th multi-hit game of the season.

Along with Patterson, four other Skyhawks turned in multi-hit days. Cody Terry went 3-for-5 with four RBI, Trey Karlen went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, Ty Nelson went 2-for-4 and Brent Morris went 2-for-5 to pace the Skyhawk offense. Matt Young also stayed hot at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in one.

Sophomore Brendan Lozupone started the game for UT Martin, going five innings and allowing six runs on eight hits. However, he did not factor into the decision. Freshman Alec Mills found some bad luck and took the loss, as he went two innings and allowed just one unearned run.

Nelson lined a two-out single to center field for the first hit of the game, and Patterson ripped the first pitch he saw for a two-run homer to straightaway center field.

Morehead State scored once in the bottom half of the first inning, but Karlen got the run right back in the top of the third, when he cleared the left field fence for his 12th round tripper of the season.

Lozupone held the Eagles scoreless in the second and third innings, and the Skyhawks hung a five-spot on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth to go on top 8-1.

Morris got things started with a double to right field, then Drew Mason drew a walk. Cory Stooksbury bunted both runners up to put two men in scoring position for Young. Young responded with a double to left field, bringing Morris home and moving Mason to third. Morehead State then intentionally walked Karlen to set up a potential inning-ending double play. Terry had other ideas, however, as he handled a 2-0 pitch for a grand slam to give Terry his third four-plus RBI game of the season.

The Eagles had two runs cross the plate in the bottom of the fourth, then added three more runs on three hits in the fifth. Young led things off with a walk in the top of the sixth, then Karlen doubled down the left field line to bring Young home and make the score 9-6.

Freshman right-hander Drew Floyd then entered the game for UT Martin, and Morehead State scored on a sacrifice fly and a two-out single to even the game at 9-9. After the second walk of the inning put runners on first and second, Mills was summoned from the bullpen. He worked his way out of the jam by fanning Michael Fear to end the inning.

UT Martin left one runner on base in the seventh, and Morehead State grabbed its first lead of the game in the next half-inning. The first two batters singled and advanced on an error, and Cameron Flynn came around to score on a fielder's choice to make the score 10-9 in the Eagles' favor.

In the top of the eighth, Nelson sent a two-out double into the right-center field gap, then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. However, he was left stranded at third base as Morehead State held on to its one run lead.

Mills got two men out but also put two men on in the bottom of the eighth, causing Skyhawk head coach Bubba Cates to call upon Drew Flaniken to keep the deficit at a single run. He did just that, ending the Eagle scoring threat by inducing a foul-out with the bases loaded.

Morehead State's Josh Schneider, in his fourth inning of work, shut down the UT Martin offense, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning to improve his season record to 7-4.

The Skyhawks will close out their home schedule this week, beginning with a game against Belmont on Wednesday, May 12 at 6 p.m. UT Martin will then take on conference foe Tennessee Tech at home on Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16, with Senior Day festivities occurring on Sunday.

#SKYHAWKS#



THE HOME RUN CHAMP: Junior first baseman Wes Patterson cranked his 33rd career home run in the top of the first inning today, breaking Jim Willis' 25-year old record for all-time UT Martin career home runs.