Box Score

ST. CATHARINE, Ky. – The University of Pikeville baseball team led at St. Catharine (Ky.) 4-1 after four innings, but the Patriots roared back with a grand slam in the seventh to steal the 6-5 win on Saturday.

UPIKE (10-7, 1-2 MSC) got a big game at the plate from centerfielder Brad Andrews with three RBIs on a pair of hits and a stolen base, but first baseman Josh Whitmer spoiled the fun with a grand slam in the seventh inning to give St. Catharine (7-9, 2-1 MSC) the lead for good.

Jared Master's took the loss for the Bears, dropping to 0-1 on the season after failing to get an out in the seventh inning. Masters had entered in relief for James Brooks who had walked the first two batters at the plate in the frame.

Joe Valentino started for the Bears, lasting 4-1/3 innings with two runs allowed on three hits. Valentino sent down four batters on strikes, while also walking four. Steven Borkowski (3-0) picked up the win, scattering 10 hits for five runs with five strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Shortstop Chaz Contreras had three hits for Pikeville, adding a pair of RBIs and a stolen base while scoring three times himself. Third baseman Erik Manning also had three hits with a double and walk and first baseman Nicolas Gonzales tallied two hits and scored a run.

After both teams scored a run in the third inning, the Bears gained momentum with Contreras and Andrews combining to drive in three runs on a pair of two-out singles. St. Catharine fought back with a run in the fifth, which Pikeville countered in the top of the seventh to build a 5-2 lead.

From that point, the grand slam would be the last offense of the game as Pikeville couldn't register a hit in the eighth or ninth innings.

The Bears get their next chance to register an MSC win at 1 p.m. ET on Friday with Bluefield (Va.) coming to Johnnie LeMaster Field.