MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team avenged last week's 16-6 non-conference loss to visiting Belmont University this afternoon (Tuesday) in Nashville by scoring seven runs in the sixth inning and six more runs in the ninth inning en route to a 16-9 victory over the host Bruins at Lipscomb University's Dugan Field.

With the win, the Skyhawks improve to 24-28 on the year, while Belmont, who is playing the remainder of its home games at Lipscomb because of the recent flooding in Nashville, now sports a 26-25 worksheet.

UT Martin head coach Bubba Cates said the difference in the two games was the atmosphere. "They are limiting the water usage so we were not allowed to take batting practice on the field and we didn't take infield. It was a lot like summer ball. You show up and play."

Belmont jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings, but the Skyhawks clawed their way back into the game with a run in the fourth inning, two in the fifth inning and seven in the sixth inning to take a 10-5 lead after six innings.

Junior Wes Alsup and senior Drew Flaniken pitched the fourth, fifth and six innings and did not allow a run. In fact the two right-handers only gave up three hits. Flaniken earned the mound victory and will go into the final weekend of the regular season with a 3-3 won-loss record.

In all the Skyhawks used four pitchers in the game. Junior college transfer Shawn Swaringen started the game and worked three innings, while freshman Drew Floyd pitched the last three innings of the game.

"Pitching wise we did a good job," Cates said.

Junior Trey Karlen, who was 1-for-5 at the plate against the Bruins last week, redeemed himself today in Nashville. Karlen was 4-for-6 with five RBI. He had two doubles and hit his 14th home run of the season to lead the Skyhawks.

Freshman Brent Morris was 3-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base and two RBI. Ty Nelson, Wes Patterson and freshman Matt Young had two hits each. Young hit his third home run of the season. The Skyhawks out-hit the Bruins 17-13.

"Sometimes you are relaxed and sometimes you are not," Cates said. "A lot of the guys are thinking about this weekend and were relaxed today."

The Skyhawks will play a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series Friday and Saturday against Austin Peay in Clarksville. The series gets under way with a doubleheader at 4 p.m., Friday. The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Saturday. The Skyhawks must win at least two of the three games against Austin Peay to qualify for the six-team postseason tournament next week at Pringles Park in Jackson.


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