PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Cumberland outhit the University of Pikeville baseball team 16-12 on its way to an 11-9 win in the first of a three-game series on Friday at Johnnie LeMaster Field.

Josh Bailey, Travis Haen, Jay Vincent and Matt Peterson all tallied two hits each, including an inside-the-park home run from Haen, but the Bears (20-18, 3-10 MSC) stranded 10 players on base. Hector Morales drove in five runs on a pair of home runs to pace Cumberland which also got a home run by Rayden Sierra.

Bryce Carden took the loss on the mound, falling to 2-6 after allowing four runs on four hits in just over an inning of relief. Phoenix reliever Mitch Langer went to an even 3-3 after allowing just two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

It was a quick start for the Phoenix as they got a 2-run blast from Sierra to right field to take a 2-0 lead with one out in the top of the first. The towering shot could've taken a toll of the Bears' confidence, however they didn't back down, scoring two runs on a double by Roberts in the bottom half.

The good times kept going for UPIKE in the next inning as Brandon Sewell gave it a 3-2 lead with a double and Haen got on his horse for a 2-run, inside the park home run to make it 5-2.

Cumberland (21-24, 4-9 MSC) continued to score though, getting an RBI single from Nick Mira in the third and a 3-run, 2-out homer from Morales in the fourth to push itself in front 6-5. Not looking to keep quiet, UPIKE made it a brief lead as Anthony Roberts drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fourth to tie things up, forcing a pitching switch to Langer.

But he couldn't avoid a second straight walk as Jorge Perez took ball four to give the Bears a 7-6 lead before Vincent flew out to center to end the inning.

With four busy innings in the books for Aaron Hedgecock, UPIKE went to the bullpen for Carden in the fifth. He walked his first batter, then gave up a double to Mira. With runners on third and second, a pitch got away from Carden and Austin Krajnak scored on the miscue.

Following a strikeout, Caleb Kellogg kept the Phoenix hot, issuing an RBI single to right that put them back in front 8-7. Carden ended up getting out of the fifth without more damage when Kellogg was caught stealing by Justin Beatty and Steven Hollis flew out to Haen in foul territory.

More runs crossed for the Phoenix in the seventh when Morales hit his second long ball of the game, this time a 2-run shot, to make it 10-7. Hall took over on the mound to grab the final two outs on a line out and Krajnak being thrown out at second trying to extend on a single.

Cumberland's four-inning streak of scoring finally ended in the seventh and the Bears ended their scoring drought with a sacrifice fly by Daniel Sterenberg to score Perez. With UPIKE now trailing just 10-8 it would be a sprint to the finish.

The Phoenix got out of the gate first, adding a run to their lead on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth, while Haen got it back in the bottom half with a run-scoring double.

A.J. Carkner threw a shutdown top of the ninth for UPIKE, allowing just one hit and giving his team a chance to recover with just a two-run deficit at 11-9. Vincent's leadoff walk, followed by Alec Barba hitting a single gave the Bears hope, but a fielder's choice hit by Peterson was followed by a strike out and fly out to end the game.

UP NEXT

UPIKE wraps up the series with Cumberland starting at Noon ET on Saturday with a doubleheader at Johnnie LeMaster Field. 

-UPIKE-