ST. CATHARINE, Ky. -- UPIKE entered Sunday with just six home runs on the season, but that didn't matter in game one against St. Catharine as the Bears sent two out of the park to steal a 5-3 win before falling 9-1 in the nightcap.

With the split, the Bears avoid being swept in a three-game series for the first time this season and move to 20-17 overall and 9-6 in Mid-South Conference play. The Patriots are now 29-14 overall and 8-7 in league play.

Two more conference series are left and the Bears currently hold a share of second place with No. 24 Lindsey Wilson. No. 21 Campbellsville, which comes to Pikeville this weekend, is in first with a 10-5 record.

St. Catharine built a 3-0 lead through five innings in the opener before catcher Justin Beatty got UPIKE on the board with a two-run homer. The next inning, Mike Peluffo gave the Bears the lead with a two-run shot of his own on his first career home run.

Now with a 4-3 lead, Travis Haen added some insurance with an RBI single in the ninth as Logan Sales kept the St. Catharine bats at bay during his two-inning save (7).

Bryce Carden improved to 6-2 on the season after scattering seven hits for three runs with three strikeouts and two walks in seven innings. The Patriots outhit UPIKE 8-6, but the long balls were on Carden's side as Beatty and Peluffo made a lot happen with their lone hits of the game.

Game two saw St. Catharine outhit the Bears 14-9 as Hedgecock was dealt his first loss of the season after allowing nine runs on 13 hits with one strikeout and two walks in 5 1/3 innings.

On the other side of the bump, it was Marvin Galarza earning the win after scattering six hits for just one run with one strikeout in 4 2/3 frames. Galarza had plenty of offense behind him, led by Hector Quinones going 3 for 4 with three RBIs, a double and run scored.

UPIKE scored in the top of the first after Josh Bailey singled and later came home on a wild throw, but that was the extent of its offense. St. Catharine took advantage, taking the lead with two runs in the bottom of the first, then adding two more in the third.

After a four-run sixth inning, which included a two-RBI double from Quinones, St. Catharine held a 9-1 lead as neither team scored again.

UPIKE 5, St. Catharine 3

C Justin Beatty: 1-4, HR, 2 RBIs

LF Mike Peluffo: 1-4, HR, 2 RBIs

3B Travis Haen: 2-4, RBI, BB, R

SS Jacob DiThomas: 1-3, 3B, BB

P Bryce Carden: 7 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 3 K, 2 BB

P Logan Sales: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 0 R

St. Catharine 9, UPIKE 1

CF Josh Bailey: 2-3, 2B, SB, BB, R

SS Jacob DiThomas: 2-3

DH: Anthony Roberts: 2-4

Up Next

UPIKE heads out to Berea, Ky., at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday to face the Mountaineers.

-UPIKE-