MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Potentially the last games for a while, UPIKE softball ended spring break with a record-breaking performance and multiple run-rule wins.

Throughout the home games last weekend and the Myrtle Beach games over the past week, UPIKE softball went 9-1 over break, outscoring opponents 73-14.

Game 5 – UPIKE defeats Penn State-Beaver, 3-2

Thursday's first game was the only dramatic one in the last four games as the Bears scored three runs with two outs in the seventh for the walk-off victory.

The first two batters in the seventh struck out, but an error by PSU gave the Bears life. Zoe Ingram followed that error with a walk to bring the winning run to the plate in Haley Osborne. She then hit a bloop single to load the bases.

UPIKE was able to let out a little sigh of relief as Alysha Bolling hit a double to right to score two runs and tie the game. The Bears then walked off as Haley Osborne scored on an error by PSU to sneak away with the win.

Despite being on the hook for the loss until the final out, Megan Claypoole still had an amazing record-breaking performance in the circle, striking out 17 batters in the game. She broke her own record of 16 that she had set, and matched last year at this very same tournament.

Claypoole still picked up the win to push her record level to 3-3 with a 1.96 ERA.

Game 6 – UPIKE defeats Ohio Christian, 5-0

The Bears did not mess around in Thursday's second game, shutting out Ohio Christian for their second win over the Trailblazers this week, 5-0.

Hannah Skaggs was magnificent again, holding the Trailblazers to just four hits in the game and striking out four.

Alyssa Franklin had an outstanding game at the plate, going 4-4 with two RBIs. Pikeville as a whole combined for 11 hits, tied for third most in the season at that time.

Once again, UPIKE took over late in the game, scoring three runs in the seventh inning to ice the game.

Game 7 – UPIKE defeats Holy Family, 13-0 (5 inn.)

Pikeville used that late burst of offensive momentum to carry over in a big way into Friday as the Bears opened the day with a 13-0 thrashing of Holy Family College.

After a scoreless first inning, UPIKE nearly doubled their run output inning after inning, scoring two in the second, four in the third inning, and seven in the fourth.

The Bears combined for a season high 15 hits in just four innings of batting as five different batters recorded two hits in the game. Franklin (two), Hannah Absher (two), and Macy Jones (four) each also provided multiple RBIs as well.

In the circle, UPIKE was one out away from a combined perfect game from Claypoole and Mattea Ware, but the Lakers were able to draw a walk and a weak single late. Ware was still able to shut the door and preserve the shutout.

Game 8 – UPIKE defeats Rochester, 12-2 (5 inn.)

UPIKE once again saw a familiar opponent on Friday, defeating Rochester for the second time in seven days, 12-2.

The bats stayed on fire as Pikeville rallied for 13 hits in the game, while Hannah Skaggs held Rochester to four.

Skaggs picked up her seventh win on the season and over the course of spring break lowered her ERA to a staggering 1.19. She also racked up seven strikeouts to push her season total to 49.

Alyssa Franklin had a perfect game at the plate going 3-3 with three doubles, an RBI and a walk. She's recorded at least one hit in eight of her last nine games.

However, her teammates carried a heavier load in pushing runs across the plate as Hannah Absher (two), Haley Osborne (two), Megan Claypoole (two), and Brynna Souels (three) each knocked in multiple runs.

UP NEXT

With the suspension of athletics in the Mid-South Conference through the end of March, these games will be the last UPIKE will play for a while. The earliest we may see UPIKE retake the field will be on April 3 against Lindsey Wilson at home.

-UPIKE-