ST. CATHARINE, Ky. -- After splitting with the University of Pikeville softball team on Saturday, St. Catharine won two games on Sunday to claim a 3-1 series win.

The Patriots used a nine-run inning to win 15-5 in five innings in the opener, followed by breaking up a 5-5 tie in the fifth inning of game two with a four-run showing to complete the sweep.

UPIKE drops to 14-23 overall and 8-14 in Mid-South Conference play, while St. Catharine moves up to 21-25 overall and 7-15 in league play.   

St. Catharine 15, UPIKE 5 (5 inn.)

UPIKE couldn't take advantage of Jillian Bonhert's two-homerun effort at the plate in game one, losing 15-5 to St. Catharine in five innings

Bonhert went 2-2 in the game on a pair of solo homers in the second and third innings.

But Tiffany Wickline got plenty of run support in the circle as she earned the win despite allowing five runs on six hits over four innings with two strikeouts.

Six Patriot batters combined for 13 hits, 14 RBIs and 10 runs scored, led by Kelsey Gravens going 3 for 4 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Wickline and Carly Benz also hit home runs for the Patriots which scored nine runs in the third inning.

Lindsay Floyd took the loss for UPIKE after scattering eight hits for seven runs without a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.

UPIKE grabbed a 4-3 lead in the third inning on Bohnert's one-out solo blast, but the momentum came to a halt when St. Catharine scored nine runs on seven hits and two Bear errors in the bottom of the inning.

Wickline opened the scoring in the frame with a one-out grand slam, three other runs scored on RBI singles and two more came home on errors in the infield.

The Bears tried to extend the game in the fifth when Hollie Hinkle tagged up on a sacrifice fly to make it a seven-run game, but St. Catharine brought the game to an early close with Gravens' three-run shot to left field.

St. Catharine 9, UPIKE 5

UPIKE jumped out to an early lead in the nightcap, but was unable to hold on in a 9-5 loss.

The Bears were in business at the end of the top of the second with a 5-1 lead after Amber Murrell hit a two-RBI single past the shortstop, followed by Breana Pineda being hit with the bases loaded to score Bohnert.

But the four-run gap wasn't enough as St. Catharine once again hit three home runs in the game, helping it plate a run in the third, another in the fourth, and then four more in the fifth inning to break open a 5-5 tie.

Lexi Fugate was given the win in the circle after not allowing a run on two hits in three innings of relief, while Floyd took the loss after scattering eight hits for nine runs, six earned, in five innings with four walks.

St Catharine's long balls came from Miranda Whelan in the first inning, Emily Fenwick in the third inning,\ and Wickline with a solo blast in the fourth.

The four-run fifth put the Patriots up for good as they scored twice on an error and added an RBI single from Lynsie Clark to open the frame, which ultimately won the game as neither team scored again.

Up Next

UPIKE hosts Cumberlands at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday for a MSC doubleheader at Paul Butcher Field.

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