DANVILLE, Ky. – Junior Kayla Morgan pitched all eight innings to lead the University of Pikeville past the University of the Cumberlands 5-4 in the play-in game of the Mid-South Conference tournament at Millennium Park on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Bears got the lead when junior Hannah Vinson singled in the top of the eighth to score freshman Brandi Jo Howard with the go-ahead run. Howard led the inning off with a walk and moved to second when freshman Shamy Williams laid down a sacrifice bunt.
 
Pikeville (17-32) will now play top-seeded Lindsey Wilson at 11 a.m. on Thursday in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament.
 
Cumberlands (10-40) took the early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run by designated player Jessica Speake.
 
The Bears answered with a pair in the top of the third to even the count. Catcher Sierra Kiser led off with an infield single and moved to third on a ground-rule double by shortstop Kayla Cantrell. Kiser scored on a passed ball and Cantrell tied it off a ground out by Howard.
 
The Patriots regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Speake's infield single scored pinch-runner Emily McIntire.
 
In the top of the sixth, the Bears took a short-lived lead. It began when Williams was hit by a pitch with one out. One out later, it appeared the Pats had gotten out of the inning when Vinson struck out but she was safe at first on a passed ball.
 
Sophomore Emily Castle singled in Williams, and an error on the play allowed Vinson to put the Bears in front when she scored from first to make it 4-3.
 
The game was tied in the bottom of the frame when Ashleigh Hopf drew a bases-loaded walk to score catcher Brittny Lovelace.
 
Pikeville won the game despite being out-hit 14-5. Vinson had two, including the double. Cantrell doubled while Castle and Kiser singled.
 
Morgan survived the 14 hits and four walks thanks to striking out six in the win.
 



-UPIKE-