BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- While UPIKE is still alive, the task won't be easy for the Bears after losing its first game at the MSC Championship to Cumberland (Tenn.), 6-5.

Pikeville held the lead for much of the game after taking an early lead. Anthony Houk got the Bears on the board with a two-RBI double in the second inning to score Jay Vincent and Dillon O'Grady.

Meanwhile, UPIKE starter Bruce Bell was beyond lights out through the first few innings. Bell only surrendered one hit while striking out four in the first four innings.

Jacob Alvarado extended the lead with an RBI single in the fifth to score Pastor Sanchez, who reached on a single of his own.

However, Cumberland began its comeback just after that. The first two batters reached for the Phoenix on a walk and single. After a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, it appeared that UPIKE might escape the inning unscathed, but then Eddie McDaniels delivered for CU with a two-RBI single.

Bell was able to stop the bleeding and got through the next inning to preserve the lead heading into the seventh.

Cumberland took the lead in the seventh on a two-RBI triple from Peyton Wheatley. McDaniels followed again with a sacrifice fly to give the Phoenix a 5-3 lead.

Phoenix reliever Thomas Galart was lights out after coming in in the fifth inning. He held the Bears to one hit while striking out four in four innings.

Pikeville was only able to break through against Galart after a near hour and a half long rain delay, when UPIKE started the ninth with two walks.

But that one hit was a crucial one for the Bears, a two-RBI double by Kase Mattingly to tie the game at 5-5.

Cumberland responded in the ninth though. The Phoenix led off the inning with a leadoff double and a single to get the game-winning run to third with no one out. CU loaded the bases with a walk, but then a shallow pop out and strikeout by Aaron Hedgecock got the Bears to the verge of extras.

Jose Vera then ended the game with a walk-off single. It was his first hit of the game after striking out in his previous four at-bats.

After the loss, Pikeville's next game will be tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. ET / 11 a.m. CT against the loser of this afternoon's game between Georgetown and Campbellsville at Bowling Green Ballpark.

-UPIKE-