CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – A sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the 10^th inning ended the season for the University of Pikeville Bears in a 4-3 loss to the University of Rio Grande in the Mid-South Conference tournament on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Pikeville took a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth but saw the Red Storm tie it in the bottom half. The game was locked until it ended with the bunt.
 
Rio Grande got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when designated hitter Brian Suerdick doubled with one out and scored on a single by left fielder Ethan Abell. The Bears answered with a tally in the top of the third frame when senior Jason Rosen singled and scored as part of a double steal to even the count.
 
It stayed that way until the top of the sixth when the Bears took the lead. Centerfielder Brad Andrews reached with a one-out single and moved to second on a walk by first baseman Pat O'Brien. Right fielder Nate Goodwin gave the Bears the lead with a single to right to plate Andrews. After catcher Luke Wright singled to load the bases, designated hitter Chris Morford scored O'Brien with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 3-1.
 
The lead, however, would be short-lived. Second baseman Grant Tamane led off the bottom of the inning with a single to center. Two outs later he was balked into scoring position and moved to third when first-baseman Kyle Findley singled to right. Suerdick singled to score Tamane to make it 3-2, and Jacob Cooke, running for Findley, scored on a double steal to tie the game at 3.
 
It stayed that way until the bottom of the 10^th, and again, Suerdick was in the middle of the action. His sacrifice bunt scored pinch-runner Donaldson with one out to end the game.
 
All seven of Pikeville's hits were singles. Rosen picked up two of them in his final performance in a Bears uniform. Andrews, O'Brien, Goodwin, Wright and Morford also had hits.
 
Senior Chris Noble went all 9-1/3 innings for the Bears. He allowed 10 hits and walked four while striking out three.
 
Anthony Bond pitched a 1-2-3 10^th to get the win for Rio in relief of Mike Deitsch, who allowed seven hits and struck out three in the first nine innings.
 
-UPIKE-