Pikeville, KY – The University of Pikeville softball team took game one against the Cumberland Phoenix 2-1 before dropping game two in extra innings, 7-5.
Carrie Boyd was the hero in the first game, lacing a one-out double to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Bears a 2-1 lead.
Mattea Ware would shut the door and get the Bears their first Mid-South Conference win this season.
Lillie Kluesner led UPIKE with two RBI in game two. They return to action against the Phoenix tomorrow at noon.
Game One
The Bears struck first in the second inning on a two-out,
Jamie Pollard single up the middle to give them a 1-0 lead. The Phoenix scored on a fielder's choice to tie things up in the top of the fifth. The aforementioned Boyd double gave UPIKE the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth. Ware picked up her third win of the week and seventh of the season in the game, only allowing four hits and striking out five.
Game Two
UPIKE used four Phoenix errors in the bottom of the first to grab an early 2-0 lead.
Cumberland would score five unanswered runs and take a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. That half inning began with three consecutive singles for the Bears to load the bases with nobody out. A
Lillie Kluesner single down the left field line with one out would cut it to one at 5-4. Boyd would then come through again with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 5-5.
Neither team had many chances throughout the rest of the game before things headed to extra innings. The eighth saw Cumberland hit an RBI single and score on an RBI groundout to give them their 7-5 lead. UPIKE brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the inning, but a double play ended the game.
What's Up Next
The Bears return to action tomorrow afternoon against Cumberland with first pitch slated for 12:00 p.m. at Paul Butcher Field.
