PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- The first game of Thursday's doubleheader wasn't one to remember, but the Bears responded and made the second game a pretty memorable one with a walk-off win to split the doubleheader with No. 17 Georgetown.

Game 1

Bruce Bell was dealing early in his last start at Johnnie LeMaster Field, but the Tigers eventually got to him — and the rest of the staff — in the series opening 12-1 run-rule win.

The Tigers rally started with a two-run home run in the top of the third. UPIKE got one of those runs back after loading the bases in the bottom of the inning with no outs. Pikeville scored its only run on a sacrifice fly from Luke Lubiniecki.

Bell would begin to run out of gas in the fifth where it appeared he would be able to escape trouble after making an incredible diving tag to save a run on a squeeze bunt. However, GC laced a two-out triple to the deepest part of the ballpark that scored two more runs.

The senior pitcher would attempt to pitch the sixth and once again was nearly successful. Georgetown came through again with two outs with a two-RBI double to chase Bell from the game.

Once Georgetown got to the bullpen their bats caught fire, scoring six runs in the seventh to enact the 10-run rule and end the game early.

Game 2

UPIKE made up those innings lost with two extra innings, but went home happy after walking off the Tigers with a 3-2 win.

Bears starter Ean Walda had a great outing in his final home start, going 5.2 innings with just five hits and one run with seven strikeouts.

Conversely, UPIKE's offense woke up for the second game, tallying 13 hits off the Tigers, but for most of the game couldn't find the clutch hit. The Bears had runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings but didn't score.

That tide changed in the fourth when Jacob Alvarado hit an RBI double to bring home Kase Mattingly and break the scoreless tie. After a bobble by the outfielder, Alvarado was able to take third and came home one batter later on Tyler Menrath's RBI groundout.

Georgetown finally broke through against Walda in the sixth with a single and a double off the senior to cut the lead to 2-1. The Tigers got one more runner on before UPIKE turned to Aaron Hedgecock to preserve the win. He ended the threat in the sixth, needing three more outs for the save.

Pikeville went down quietly in the sixth, but after a leadoff single and two sacrifice bunts the tying run was 90 feet away. As they seemingly had all day, GC came through again with a clutch hit to tie the game and it went to extras.

Neither team was able to do much in the eighth and Georgetown wasn't able to score in the ninth to set the scene for the walkoff.

Menrath and Lubiniecki each got on base with infield singles to get the winning run in scoring position. Then Jay Vincent unloaded one off the wall that was feet away from being a home run and Menrath scored from second to win the game for UPIKE.

The win is only UPIKE's third in the last 10 matchups against the Tigers.

UP NEXT

Because of forecasted rain on Friday, UPIKE baseball's senior day against the Tigers is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, time TBA.

-UPIKE-