Pikeville, KY – UPIKE softball played their first home series of the weekend on Friday and Saturday, facing off with the Wildcats of Bethel in MSC action. The Bears managed a win in game two but fell in the MSC series 3-1.

Game twos win came in unusual fashion, walking off on a wild pitch in extra innings. The win came in the Bears' best offensive outing of the series where they finished with eight hits and just a pair of errors. Erin Bolen also smashed her first home run of the season in game one, slugging a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh. Sophie Kluesner scored the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to an excellent at-bat from Carrie Boyd who forced 12 pitches, eventually causing Kaylee McKinley to toss a wild pitch to the backstop which allowed Kluesner to cross.

Katelyn Byrd managed three hits in the series, including an RBI and a run scored in the second game of the series. The freshman also finished with a pair of stolen bases in the series. Senior Megan Claypoole led the team with five RBIs in the series, clubbing four hits including a triple and her second home run of the season on day one. Claypoole also pitched in a pair of games, totaling 12 innings, racking up 13 strikeouts and allowing 13 runs (10 earned) on 18 hits.

Game 1 | L, 5-3 | Box Score

In the opening game of the series, the Bears recorded a trio of hits but were plagued by five errors. Bethel got on top early with a run in the first frame, adding three more in the third to take a 4-1 lead. The Bears had a big inning in the fourth, started by Byrd who's hit to short caused an error, followed by a walk from Alyssa Franklin that put two runners on for the Bears. Zoe Ingram stepped up and delivered a hit through the infield that put both Byrd and Franklin in scoring position before Claypoole crushed a triple to the fence in left that scored both. Claypoole later scored on an error to complete the three run inning.

The Bears held Bethel scoreless through the final three innings but weren't able to get the offensive production and fell 5-3.

Game 2 | W, 6-5 | Box Score

Seven Bears connected for a hit in UPIKE's lone win of the series, led by Claypoole who went 2-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Mattea Ware earned the win, pitching five complete innings in relief for Katlyn Mullins not allowing a run. Ware struck out four and walked just one in her first career win at UPIKE.

Game 3 | L, 8-0 | Box Score

The Bears recorded just one hit in game three, coming by way of a single in the bottom of the first from Byrd. Defensively, UPIKE held up for the most part, rendering Bethel scoreless for three innings before the Wildcats would put together a six hit, six run inning in the fifth frame thanks in part to a two-run homer.

Claypoole picked up the loss in game three, going all five innings allowing eight runs (five earned) and striking out six.

Game 4 | L, 7-3 | Box Score

After a disappointing game three, UPIKE showcased improvement offensively on the final game of the series with five hits from five different players. All three of the Bears' runs came in the sixth frame where UPIKE clubbed five hits from Osbourne, Byrd, Ingram, and Claypoole with Ingram's and Claypoole's this also coming as RBIs.

Katlyn Mullins got the start in game four, relieved by Mattea Ware in the third. Mullins picked up the loss after going two and two-thirds allowing four hits and one run. Ware offered 3.1 innings and allowed seven hits, six runs (three earned) and struck out two.
UPIKE softball returns to action at home on Monday, March 8^th as they step out of conference play for a double-header against Alice Lloyd. Monday's contest begins at 1PM and will be streamed live via the UPIKE Sports Network.