ST. CATHARINE, Ky. -- Daniel Lerma was nearly unhittable for St. Catharine in its series-opening 8-1 win over the University of Pikeville baseball team on Saturday afternoon.

The Bears (19-16, 8-5 MSC) tallied just one hit on Lerma through seven innings as he added six strikeouts and two walks. UPIKE didn't score until the eighth inning when Jacob DiThomas hit an RBI groundout to first as the Patriots had already built an 8-0 lead.

DiThomas was one of two UPIKE players to collect a hit in the game, joined by catcher Justin Beatty. St. Catharine wasn't red hot at the plate, tallying just eight hits, but scored on a consistent basis, plating three runs in the second and third innings.

Although the Patriots (28-13, 7-6 MSC) didn't have any extra-base hits, they succeeded on the base paths with five steals. St. Catharine added two insurance runs in the seventh on an error in the infield and a sacrifice fly to take an 8-0 lead.

UPIKE got its lone run on the board when DiThomas hit a ball to first base with the bases juiced, allowing Travis Haen, who led off with a walk, to come home.

Dalton Dahley took the loss on the mound after scattering six hits for six runs, four earned, with two strikeouts and three walks in six innings. Nick Wood threw the final two frames, allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts as well.

St. Catharine 8, UPIKE 1

SS Jacob DiThomas: 1-4, RBI

C Justin Beatty: 1-4

DH Anthony Roberts: 0-2, BB, SB

Up Next

UPIKE and St. Catharine wrap up the weekend series with a doubleheader starting at Noon ET on Sunday.

-UPIKE-