PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- You couldn't draw up a better start to the home portion of the 2017 season for the University of Pikeville baseball team as it cruised to a pair of 10-1 and 5-1 wins against visiting Goshen (Ind.) in a Saturday doubleheader at Johnnie LeMaster Field.

UPIKE outhit Goshen a combined 18-9 on the day, including four hits and four RBIs from outfielder Matt Peterson. Starting pitching was a strength for the Bears as well with Dalton Dahley and Aaron Hedgecock tallying winning decisions with just one run allowed each to the Maple Leafs.  

GAME ONE - UPIKE 10, Goshen 1

The Bears fell behind 1-0 early in the opener before jumping out to a big lead with three runs in the second and four in the third, starting with a triple by Alec Barba in the second frame.

UPIKE grabbed the lead for good with the three second-inning runs. Barba tripled off of Blake Collins, driving in two of them and Jorge Perez hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the other.

Dahley tossed 5 2/3 innings, scattering three hits and striking out six as his offense continued to give him a lift with three more runs in the fifth and sixth innings combined. Collins took the loss for Goshen after giving up seven runs on seven hits.

UPIKE finished the game with 11 hits, paced by Anthony Roberts with three. Doubles were logged by Roberts, Barba, Travis Haen and Justin Beatty, while Josh Bailey and Barba each roped triples.

GAME TWO - UPIKE 5, Goshen 1

Hedgecock lasted 5 2/3 innings in the finale, giving up six hits, but also striking out five. A.J. Carkner recorded the last four outs to earn the save with all three seventh-inning batters striking out.

Braedon Evans went the distance for Goshen to take the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.

Peterson and Jay Vincent each collected multiple hits for UPIKE and Daniel Sterenberg went 1-for-3 at the dish with a team-best two RBIs. UPIKE finished the game with eight total hits, including doubles from Vincent and Haen.

Goshen had six hits in the game with Preston Carr and Clinton Stroble II tallying two hits each, including a triple by Carr.

UPIKE led just 3-1 heading into the sixth inning before Sterenberg stepped up to the plate with runners on third and second to deliver his two-RBI hit to center. That hit gave Carkner even more breathing room to easily mow down the side for the save.

UP NEXT

UPIKE and Goshen play the final two games of the weekend series starting at Noon ET on Sunday.

-UPIKE-