DUNBAR, W. Va. – UPIKE baseball had a long day filled with doubleheader dramatics on Sunday, both in a positive and negative fashion.

Game 1 – UPIKE defeats Concordia, 8-7

UPIKE's first game of the day was a thrilling one for the Bears fans that made the trip as Pastor Sanchez delivered a walk-off single to cap a three-run rally to defeat Concordia (Mich.), 8-7.

The Bears entered the seventh inning needing at least two runs to tie the game. Ronaldo Tijero got the rally started with a single, and after a walk to Tyler Menrath and a fielder's choice, the Bears had runners on the corners with one out. Kase Mattingly cut the lead to one with an RBI groundout, his sixth of the season.

Dillon O'Grady then stepped up with two outs to score the game-tying run with an RBI single to right field. His two RBIs in the game were the third and fourth for the senior on the season.

Representing the winning run, O'Grady advanced to second on a wild pitch and Roy'ce Brittentime took his place as a pinch runner to set the stage for Sanchez's game-winner. The walk-off was the first of Sanchez's career.

The final lead was not UPIKE's first of the game as the Bears jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first. A single, error, and hit batsman loaded the bases with no outs. The three runs scored on an RBI groundout by O'Grady, sacrifice fly by Sanchez, and wild pitch.

UPIKE also scored in the third on a Greg Lile sac fly and in the fifth on another RBI single by Sanchez.

Almost all of Concordia's runs came as part of a six-run second inning.

Austin Wetherington and Kevin Justice combined for 5.2 innings of three hit relief with six strikeouts, three each. Justice picked up his first career win in the decision.

Game 2 – UPIKE loses to Goshen, 5-4

After a long wait between games, UPIKE fell behind late in the day's second contest, eventually losing to Goshen, 5-4.

Fresh off another close win in the game prior, Goshen jumped on the Bears early with two quick runs in the first inning. The Maple Leafs hit back to back doubles to score the first run then scored the other on an error.

UPIKE then returned the favor with two runs each in the second and third innings.

Eduardo Bello picked up his first RBI of the day to score UPIKE's first run on a single up the middle, then a double play plated another run, but then halted the rally short.

The third inning scoring was much more explosive as back to back to back hits from Menrath, Helton and Mattingly pushed the UPIKE lead to 4-2.

After three games in the 30 hours prior, the UPIKE pitching staff had already been mostly depleted and forced the Bears to turn the game into an all-staff game.

Six different players pitched in the game, three of which had already pitched this weekend.

Goshen was able to take advantage of the tiring arms as they launched a comeback in the fourth and completed it in the sixth. After scoring the first in the fourth, Goshen took its first lead since the first on a two-RBI double in the sixth.

UP NEXT                                                                                        

UPIKE's next scheduled contest is on Tuesday against West Virginia Tech at noon. Because of the pending field conditions, the location is still TBD.

-UPIKE-