Pikeville, KY - Baseball got back to work Friday afternoon in home opener action against Cleary University. The Bears split in day one of the four game series, dropping 12-1 in game one before roaring back to a 11-5 win in game two.
The Bears record moves to 3-5 on the season, picking up their first win at Johnnie LeMaster Field since April 10
th, 2021.
Game 1
Ty Crall got the call to start on the mound for UPIKE to start the day and offered six innings of work. Crall tossed 100 pitches, allowing five runs on nine hits and striking out five. The sophomore pitcher picked up the loss and moves to 1-1 on the season.
The Bears knocked six total hits in the contest, led by catcher
Zach Hill who went 2-3 including a double down the left field line in the fifth frame.
Cooper Schwalbach tagged the second double of the game for the Bears with a lead-off shot to right center in the seventh.
Cleary got on top early with a run in the opening frame courtesy of a double followed by a sac fly. The Cougars kept the Bears scoreless up until the seventh frame, building a nine run lead up to that point. UPIKE's lone run of the contest came as Freas tried to stretch a single and Schwalbach crossed on the throw.
Game 2
In the first frame of game two, Cleary looked to have maintained momentum as they crossed four in the top half. The Bears answered with a three run inning in the bottom of the second, before taking a permanent lead in the third.
Jairemy Pulido earned his first win of the season with a rock-solid seven inning showing on the mound. Pulido allowed just five hits, five runs (three earned) and struck out six in 125 pitches.
Cam Revolt showed off his gusto at the plate, going 3-3 and scoring a pair of runs including a two RBI blast over the left field fence in the sixth.
Tyler Maynard went 2-4 at the plate and scored three runs for the Bears, including the game tying run in the third thanks to a sac fly from
Ryan Sartin.
Tyler Freas' moment of the day came on an RBI rocket to the center field fence for a triple which scored the go-ahead run in
AJ Miller in the bottom of the fourth.
UPIKE baseball returns to action tomorrow for games three and four against the Cougars at Johnnie LeMaster Field. First pitch is slated for 12:00 PM