Pikeville, KY – The University of Pikeville softball team swept the visiting Union College Bulldogs Sunday afternoon at Paul Butcher Field, 3-1 and 12-7. These were the first wins for UPIKE over Union since the 2015 season.

Mattea Ware led the Bears in the circle, giving them nine strong innings, with only two runs given up and one earned run. She struck out 11 hitters total with seven coming in her complete game victory in game one. She also didn't walk a single batter.

Sophie Kluesner led the Bears at the plate with four hits over the two games, while Lillie Kluesner had three hits on the day. Overall, 10 Bears had at least one hit this afternoon with five Bears recording an extra-base hit. Six players also recorded at least one RBI.

With the pair of wins, UPIKE moves to 3-3 this season. They return to action this Friday for the start of conference play at Bethel University.

Game 1
The first game was scoreless until the fifth inning, with both teams leaving a combined nine runners on base through the first four frames. UPIKE broke through in the bottom of the fifth after loading the bases with nobody out. Alyssa Franklin and Alexis Roby both had an RBI with singles through the left side to give UPIKE a 2-0 lead. Jamie Pollard completed the damage with a two-out single up the middle to give the Bears a 3-0 advantage.

Union answered with a run in the sixth but Ware shut the door and the Bears came away with the 3-1 win.

Game 2
The second game was the complete opposite of the first, with more runs being scored in the first inning than in the entirety of the first contest. UPIKE limited the damage in the first frame after the first two Bulldogs reached base, as Union took a 1-0 lead.

The Bears scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first without a single hit, as two walks, two hit by pitches, and a wild pitch provided UPIKE a 2-1 lead. The lead would grow after Roby singled home a run and Mary Oxford added a sacrifice fly to make it 4-1 after the first inning.

A double and a three-run homerun helped give the Bulldogs a 5-4 lead in the third inning. The Bears would tie it in the bottom of the frame with an unearned run to make it 5-5. UPIKE would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth after Carrie Boyd hit a sacrifice fly deep enough to center field where both Kluesners were able to score and make it 7-5.

UPIKE continued to pour it on in the fifth, scoring five runs on five hits to make it 12-5. The inning was highlighted by a pinch-hit Zoey Keeton three-RBI double into left center field. Despite Union threatening throughout the remainder of the game, UPIKE won the game 12-7.

What's Up Next
As mentioned, Mid-South Conference play begins on Friday afternoon when the Bears travel to McKenzie, TN to take on Bethel University in a two-day series. They play at 3:00 and 5:00 Eastern time on Friday before playing at 1:00 and 3:00 Eastern on Saturday.