Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – As it continues to battle for a spot in the postseason, the University of Pikeville softball team got a big lift on Friday in dramatic fashion, winning a pair of one-run games against Cumberlands (Ky.) at Paul Butcher Field.

UPIKE led 4-1 in the seventh inning of the opener, but the Patriots answered with three runs, forcing the Bears to put together a 5-4 win in eight innings. Up 4-0 in the sixth inning of game two, the Bears saw Cumberlands score three runs over the next two frames before a Sydney Morris strikeout sealed the sweep.

Heading into Saturday's home doubleheader at Noon ET against Georgetown (Ky.), Pikeville is tied for eighth place in the Mid-South Conference standings with an 11-20 overall record and 7-15 mark in the MSC. Only the top eight teams advance to the MSC Tournament at the end of this month.

Cumberlands drops to 11-20 overall and 8-10 in league play with the two losses as Morris (6-9) took to the circle for a pair of complete-game wins for the Bears. The sophomore allowed four runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts in game one, followed by allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts in the finale.

Nichol Chesley dropped to 8-10 on the season with the loss in game one, scattering 12 hits for the five runs with four strikeouts and four walks, while Ashleigh Hopf (3-5) lost game two after giving up four runs on six hits with just one strikeout.

UPIKE gained an early 2-0 lead in the second inning of the opener as left fielder Kayla Brown hit a one-out home run over the left field fence. Cumberlands cut the deficit in half with a sacrifice fly in the next inning before the Bears added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take the 4-1 lead.

Just one out away from taking the win, disaster struck as the Patriots strung together three straight singles and a double to come all the way back with three runs. Luckily the comeback didn't stymy the Bears as they loaded the bases in the eighth, allowing right fielder Sara Browning to end the game with a single hit into centerfield.

Brown and Browning both drove in two runs in the win, while shortstop Taylor Weeks went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Designated player Mackenzie Summers made the most of her two at-bats, going 2-for-2 including a crucial bunt single in the eighth inning.

It was another early lead for Pikeville in game two, except this one was even bigger as it scored one run in the first inning and three more in the second with the help of doubles from first baseman Courtney Morgan and centerfielder Brandi Jo Howard.

While the Bears wouldn't score again in the game, it took the Patriots until the sixth inning to flirt with the idea of another comeback. With two outs, first baseman Bethany Davis hit a two-run homer to cut the lead in half, before Mary Beth Hogue made it a one-run game with a two-out single in the seventh.

The next batter was hit and Amber Hyde hit a single to load the bases with two outs for the Patriots. Morris didn't let the game go into extra innings this time though as she froze Robertson with a fastball to end the rally.

Howard shined at the plate in game two, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a double and two runs scored, while Browning and third baseman Hollie Hinkle both drove in runs without a hit.

 
 
UPIKE 5, Cumberlands (Ky.) 4 (8 inn.)
Taylor Weeks: 2-3, R, BB
Kayla Brown: 1-3, HR, 2 RBIs, BB, R
Sara Browning: 3-4, 2 RBIs
Mackenzie Summers: 2-2
Sydney Morris: 8 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 Ks, 0 BB

 
UPIKE 4, Cumberlands (Ky.) 3
Brandi Jo Howard: 3-4, 2 RBIs, 2B, 2 R
Courtney Morgan: 1-3, 2B, R
Kayla Brown: 1-1, BB, R, SB
Sydney Morris: 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 Ks, 0 BB