PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- After winning the most games in 15 years at 25-23 last season, the University of Pikeville baseball team is ready to go for the 2017 campaign, traveling to St. Andrews in Laurinburg, N.C., for a pair of doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.

Games are scheduled to start at Noon ET on both days, but only Sunday's contests will be live streamed and have live stats available. This is the fifth straight season UPIKE has traveled to St. Andrews to open the season where it is 4-7 since 2013.

Last season St. Andrews won both games, 8-7 and 4-1.

There's reason for optimism around the Bears' program in 2017 as it went winless in Mid-South Conference play in 2015 before first-year head coach Jim Pitt led the group to 11 conference wins last season. Pitt, the reigning MSC Coach of the Year, is back, as are first-team catcher Justin Beatty and centerfielder Josh Bailey.

Beatty hit .338 last season with two home runs and 36 RBIs and Bailey clocked in at .346 with 10 doubles, a triple, two home runs and 26 RBIs.

Third baseman Travis Haen and leading pitcher Bryce Carden are also back in the mix after a pair of MSC Second-Team selections last year. Haen, who also earned the league's Gold Glove Award at third, had a .432 on-base percentage and .940 fielding percentage.

Carden had one of the best regular seasons on the mound in program history with an 8-2 record and 2.09 ERA. The eight wins were the second most in the MSC.

Add in the talented returners to a strong recruiting class of freshmen and junior-college transfers and it's easy to get excited for UPIKE baseball in 2017.

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