PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Two tough innings for UPIKE created a deficit too big to conquer on Saturday as the Bears lost to Saint Francis (Ind.), 8-4.

Saint Francis jumped on the Bears early and scored four runs in the first inning off of UPIKE starter Brady Cappe.

It was a tough night on the mound for the senior. He lasted just 4.1 innings, surrendering nine hits and seven runs. He was able to generate some swings and misses though and racked up eight strikeouts as a result.

After that first inning Cappe was able to settle in for a bit. Pikeville got on the board first in the third with a smallball rally that started with a Roy'ce Brittentime single. After a fielder's choice and Noah Helton walk, Tyler Menrath scored on another fielder's choice hit by Kase Mattingly.

That 4-1 scoreline held until the fifth inning when the Cougars hung another crooked number with a three-run inning that chased Cappe out of the game.

The Bears relief pitchers were solid on Saturday though, combining for 4.2 innings of one-hit, one-run ball between Austin Wetherington, Cody Morton, and Casey Hensley.

UPIKE was able to get two of those runs back in the sixth with three straight hits to lead off the inning. Helton led off the inning with a double, Mattingly followed with a single, then Eduardo Bello followed with a double of his own. Demarco Miller later hit an RBI triple to bring the score to 7-3.

John McKenzie hit a pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning for the final UPIKE run.

UP NEXT

UPIKE baseball will be back in action Sunday morning with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. at Johnnie Lemaster Field.

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