PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Pikeville baseball team jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 14-2 win over Alice Lloyd on Tuesday in a rain-shorted five innings at Johnnie LeMaster Field.

Games become official after four and a half innings played with the home team in the lead, and the heavy stuff waited off just in time for the Bears to earn the win.  

With 10 runs in the first three innings, UPIKE (9-3) left little doubt about the eventual outcome, regardless of how long it could stay on the field. Add on a strong showing from starter Josh Bailey on the mound, and the Bears were in business

Bailey pitched all five frames, allowing two runs on just two hits with three strikeouts and no walks to improve to 1-0 on the season.

A three-run home run by catcher Justin Beatty in the the first inning and an Eagle error in the second fueled the UPIKE's early success. Beatty racked up four RBIs on one hit after also adding a sacrifice fly in the bottom of a six-run third inning.

The Bears had little trouble against Alice Lloyd's pitching as six hitters combined for nine hits, 12 RBIs and 10 runs, including designated hitter Anthony Roberts leading the way with two doubles.

Austin Johnson took the loss for the Eagles (2-3) after lasting just one inning with control issues. He hit three batters and allowed four earned runs on three hits.

UPIKE did the bulk of its damage in the busy third as shortstop Jacob DiThomas singled, plating second baseman Erik Manning to kick things off, followed by an RBI single from left fielder Mike Peluffo.

While the Bears would score four runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth, Alice Lloyd  picked up a couple itself in the top of the frame on catcher Ronnie Saylor's two-run shot to left. That blast and a softly hit single to center by first baseman Alex White were the Eagles only two hits of the game.

Up Next

UPIKE hosts Indiana-Pennsylvania for a four-game weekend series on Saturday and Sunday. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for Noon ET.

-UPIKE-