PIKEVILLE, Ky. – UPIKE baseball rebounded from a tough loss on Friday to get a split on Saturday and avoid a series sweep to Mount Vernon Nazarene

Game 1 – MVNU wins 8-6

Both offenses caught fire in the day's opening game as the Cougars fended off a late comeback from the Bears to win in seven innings, 8-6.

UPIKE got on the board early with a three-run first inning. A hit batter and single got the inning started, then after a sacrifice bunt, Eduardo Bello hit a two-RBI single. After the courtesy runner stole a base, Dillon O'Grady kept the rally going with another RBI single.

MVNU tied the game up with three runs across the second and third innings; however, the Bears took the lead back with another crooked number in the bottom of the third.

Once again, the rally got started with a hit batter, then O'Grady came through again with a double to put the runners at second and third with one out. A Pastor Sanchez sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Demarco Miller gave the Bears a 5-3 lead.

Mount Vernon took over in the fourth though, with a four-run inning. The Cougars tacked on another insurance run in the seventh to lead 8-5.

Pikeville scored in the bottom of the seventh and brought the tying run to the plate, but couldn't finish the magic.

Game 2 – UPIKE wins 6-5

It required another late rally, but UPIKE was able to close out the game and get the job done in the second game to salvage the doubleheader split with a 6-5 win.

For the third consecutive game, UPIKE started the scoring with a three-run first inning. A walk and two hit batsmen got the bases loaded with no outs, then a wild pitch and error scored two runs, while the third scored on a double play.

Starter Chase McKinney produced a solid outing of bend, but don't break pitching. He gave up five hits across six innings of work, surrendering just two earned run in the process with four strikeouts.

Kase Mattingly extended Pikeville's lead in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to build the lead to 4-1. MVNU cut that lead to 4-2 in the sixth, which ended McKinney's work.

Kevin Justice pitched a scoreless seventh and gave way to Jorden Davy for the eighth.

Mount Vernon Nazarene roughed up Davy in the eighth inning for three runs to take a 5-4 lead.

Pikeville responded with a big two-run eighth inning to take the lead back. Tyler Menrath hit what would be the game winner, a two RBI double to score Royce Brittentime and Pastor Sanchez.

UPIKE turned back to Davy in the ninth and he was able to close out the game and get the win for the Bears.

UP NEXT                                                                                        

After the weekend set, UPIKE takes on Milligan College on Wednesday afternoon for a midweek doubleheader against the Buffaloes. First pitch from Johnnie Lemaster Field is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

-UPIKE-