Pikeville, KY – A two-out, walk-off blast by Ryan Albers over the left field fence in extra innings sealed the series win for UPIKE baseball over Shawnee State Saturday, concluding a heated three game series. The Bears headed into game three after splitting with SSU on Friday, pulling out the 9-8 victory in the bottom of the tenth.

The Bears showed out at the plate, totaling 27 hits and 20 runs over three games, including two home runs, seven doubles, and a triple. UPIKE earns their first MSC series victory of the season following the weekend, winning game one 7-3 before losing game two 13-5 and finally sealing the win in the 10^th inning of game three.



Tyler Maynard had an outstanding series, leading the Bears' offense with five hits including three doubles, a home run (his fourth of the season) six RBIs. The freshman swung .416 through three games and scored four runs. Centerfielder Tyler Freas continued his impressive 2021 run with four hits, three runs scored, adding a double in game three.

Pitching was solid for the Bears over the weekend, starting with Nolan Fernandes who threw for seven complete in game one, allowing just one run on four hits. Fernandes rang up a season high ten strikeouts and walked just two in his best overall showing of the season. Jairemy Pulido endured six innings in game three and held the Bears to five runs, four of which came in the second frame. Ethan Cernohaus picked up the win in game three, closing out the final inning with a fly-out and a strikeout.

Game 1 | W, 7-3

With Fernandes on the mound stifling the SSU offense, the Bears had an opportunity to get ahead early and they did exactly that, putting their first run across in the first inning. UPIKE led 1-0 before a dynamic third inning saw them score three runs on five hits featuring RBI doubles from both Helton and Maynard and an RBI single from Cam Marushi.

The Bears led 4-0 through the fourth but SSU put one on the board in the top of the fifth on an RBI double from Jacob Kline. UPIKE answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning via Freas who reached on a hit-by-pitch and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Marushi.

Kline struck again for SSU in the eighth, putting a two-run homer over the left field fence to make it a 5-3 balllgame. Maynard answered in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run blast of his own on a 0-2 count that scored Freas.

Game 2 | L, 13-5

UPIKE's offense was held relatively quiet during Friday's game two, recording four hits. SSU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, but Pikeville was able to get one back in the bottom half, crossing two in the second on another RBI double by Maynard.

Shawnee outscored UPIKE 10-2 over the next three innings, before holding the Bears in orange scoreless for the final two.

Collin Fenili got the start and would pick up the loss for UPIKE, offering three and a third innings. Grayson Harris saw an inning and two-thirds of relief and held Shawnee State hitless. Luke Layhew came in for the final two innings and allowed a single hit.

Game 3 | W, 9-8

The weekend's decision matchup pinned UPIKE's Jairemy Pulido against a talented Jacob Gleason of Shawnee State. Pulido went the distance offering six innings, Gleason went seven and allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits.

Pikeville hung a run early via Darius Bomer who reached on a walk and was driven home by Maynard later in the inning. SSU answered with a big four-run inning in the second which UPIKE answered in the bottom of the frame with three runs featuring a double from Albers and a two-RBI double from Helton.

The Bears took a 5-4 lead in the third via Maynard who took home on the catcher's throw to second, prompted by Roy'ce Brittentime's steal attempt to second. Shawnee State managed a big inning in the top of the seventh, taking an 8-6 lead and holding the Bears in the eighth. UPIKE scored two in the ninth in clutch fashion, led off by singles from Kirkman and Helton. Freas stepped up and loaded the bases with one out before an error by SSU's shortstop allowed Kirkman and Helton to score, forcing extra innings.

Cernohous held SSU scoreless in the 10^th, setting the stage for Albers and the Bears to steal the win. With two outs, Albers swung on a 1-1 delivery, dropping the ball over the left-field fence as UPIKE sealed it's first conference series victory.

Bears baseball returns to action this week for a pair of non-conference games, first at Midway on Tuesday before returning to Johnnie LeMaster for a game with Milligan on Wednesday, April 14^th.