Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Courtney Morgan sent a jolt through the University of Pikeville softball team's offense in game one with a three-run homer, helping the Bears rally to 7-0 and 11-3 wins against Bluefield (Va.) on Wednesday at Paul Butcher Field.

Morgan tallied a combined three hits with a home run, three RBIs, a double, walk and two runs scored. Her long ball was part of a seven-run second inning in which UPIKE scored all the runs in game one. Morgan, second baseman Emily Castle and outfielder Kayla Brown all had two hits in the finale to help the Bears claim the run-rule win in just six innings.

It's unlikely either win could have happened without the arm of Sydney Morris. The sophomore threw all 13 innings in the circle, pitching a shutout in game one with just four hits before allowing three runs on four hits with a strikeout in game two.

Bluefield's only inning with more than one hit in the opener came in the seventh and final frame. Following a single and double, Cierra Conkle drew a walk to load the bases, but the rally was cut short as Ali Bartley popped out and Pikeville shortstop Taylor Weeks turned it into a double play throwing out a Ram returning to second base.

It was an exciting play to end the game. Prior to that, all other excitement was confined to the second inning when the Bears pushed across seven runs. It started with Brown hitting a bases-loaded single to left field to score two runs, followed by center fielder Brandi Jo Howard driving in a run with another single to left.

Now up 3-0, Pikeville added another run on a sacrifice fly by Weeks before Morgan gave the Bears plenty of breathing room with the three-run blast. Weeks finished 2-for-3 at the plate and Howard went 2-for-4 with an RBI and stolen base.

UPIKE trailed for the first time on the day in the second inning of game two as Brienna Sparks led off with a double, advanced to third on a ground ball and scored the go-ahead run on another groundout.

The outcome grew even bleaker in the third inning as catcher Morgan Stephens drove in two more Bluefield runs with a two-out double to make it a 3-0 game heading into the fourth inning. But just like before the Bears had a big inning in them, using four hits, including a two-run homer by Castle, to score four runs and grab a lead that it would never relinquish.

While Brown shut out Bluefield the rest of the way, UPIKE added two runs in the fifth inning and five runs in the sixth to bring the game to an abrupt close after going up by eight runs after five inning played. Castle provided the game-winning hit with a single to centerfield.

Pikeville is back in action at 3 p.m. ET on Friday against Cumberlands (Ky.) at Paul Butcher Field.   
 

 
UPIKE 7, Bluefield (Va.) 0
Sydney Morris: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R
Brandi Jo Howard: 2-4, RBI, R, SB
Courtney Morgan: 1-3, HR, 3 RBIs, R, BB
Taylor Weeks: 2-3, RBI, SF
Kayla Brown: 1-3, 2 RBIs, R, SB

 
UPIKE 11, Bluefield (Va.) 3 (6 inn.)
Emily Castle: 2-3, HR, 5 RBIs, R, SF
Courtney Morgan: 2-3, R, 2B
Kayla Brown: 2-2, RBI, R, BB
Taylor Weeks: 1-3, RBI, BB, 2 R
Mackenzie Summers: 1-3, R, SB