PORTSMOUTH, Ohio – Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Shawnee State's (Ohio) Tyler Kilpatrick registered his first hit of the season with a walk-off single to beat the University of Pikeville 2-1 on Friday.

SSU head coach Ted Tom became the all-time wins leader at Shawnee State with the victory, registering his 196th. And it was a senior-day substitution that sealed it as Kilpatrick had been at the plate just three times this season.

UPIKE drops to 21-15 overall and 5-16 in the Mid-South Conference with the loss, while Shawnee State improves to 26-21 overall and 12-9 in league play.

The only extra-base hit of the game was SSU right fielder Dalton Tinsley's home run in the second inning. Shawnee State outhit Pikeville 9-7 as shortstop Chaz Contreras paced UPIKE, going 2-for-3 with a stolen base and run scored. Right fielder Connor Osborne and designated hitter Sean Ryan also went 2-for-3 with Osborne adding a stolen base.

SSU's 1-0 lead lasted until the fifth inning when Contreras hit a one-out single and eventually came around to tie the game on a throwing error by catcher Dustin Bickmeyer.

It looked like the game was destined to head to extra innings until a two-out bunt single was put down by Hightchew in the ninth inning. Hightcrew took advantage of a UPIKE throwing error to move to second base, setting up Kilpatrick for his pinch-hit heroics.

Pikeville starter James Brooks lasted six innings, allowing a single run on seven hits with five strikeouts before handing the game over to Michael Vaquera. Vaquera (3-5) took the loss despite giving up just two hits in 2-2/3 innings. SSU's Derek Moore threw all nine innings, improving to 8-1 on the season after scattering seven hits for one run with 10 strikeouts.

The teams wrap up the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at Noon ET in Portsmouth, Ohio.

 
 
Shawnee State (Ohio) 2, UPIKE 1
Chaz Contreras: 2-3, SB, R
Connor Osborne: 2-3, SB
Sean Ryan: 2-3
James Brooks: 6 IP, 7 H, R, 5 Ks, BB