PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- It was a close call in both games, but the University of Pikeville softball team came away with the regular-season sweep of Shawnee State on Tuesday, winning 3-2 and 6-5 in a Mid-South Conference doubleheader.

The wins come just a week after the Bears (13-20, 7-11 MSC) topped Shawnee State at home 9-8 and 7-0, running the season series to 4-0. With the wins, Pikeville moves into fifth place in the MSC standings as the regular-season begins to wind down.

Centerfielder Amber Murrell collected a combined four hits with two stolen bases and a double, while first baseman Courtney Morgan drove in three runs with a first-inning home run and added an RBI single in the final inning of the nightcap to hold off SSU (10-22, 3-15 MSC).

Lindsay Floyd and Alexandra Quill both delivered complete-game wins in the circle. Floyd took the opener and allowed just two runs on nine hits without recording a strikeout. Quill scattered five hits for five runs with a strikeout and two walks.

Game one opened with Shawnee State building a 2-0 lead through two innings before UPIKE answered with two runs in the third on a throwing error in the infield. With the game knotted up on the error, the Bears took advantage in the next inning with an RBI single from Hollie Hinkle to plate Morgan for what would be the winning run.

Pikeville did the bulk of its damage in game two in the opening inning as Destiny Molden got things started sprinting home on a wild pitch, followed by Morgan's three-run blast to blow things open.

But the lead didn't last long as SSU fought right back with four runs of its own in the second inning. Quill sent the first one home with a bases-loaded walk, then Tara Duncan delivered a two-run single before Kendale Search stole home to tie things up.

UPIKE took a brief 5-4 lead in the fifth on an RBI single by Jillian Bohnert, but SSU scored a run in the next frame on a throwing error. Ultimately, it took more heroics from Morgan to grab the win, singling home Cassandra Javier for the go-ahead run. 

UPIKE 3, Shawnee State 2

CF Amber Murrell: 2-3, 2B, BB, SB

3B Hollie Hinkle: 2-3, RBI, R

P Lindsay Floyd: 2 R, 9 H, 2 BB, 7 IP / SB

UPIKE 6, Shawnee State 5

1B Courtney Morgan: 2-4, HR, 4 RBIS

CF Amber Murrell: 2-3, R, SB

DP Jillian Bohnert: 1-3, RBI, R, BB

P Alexandra Quill: 7 IP, 5 R, 5 H, 2 BB, 1 K

Up Next

UPIKE travels to St. Catharine at 3 p.m. ET on Friday.

-UPIKE-