Pikeville, KY – The University of Pikeville softball team lost two games Saturday afternoon at Paul Butcher Field against Shawnee State, 2-0 and 9-2. Game one went into extra innings tied 0-0 before Shawnee State plated a pair in the top of the eighth and held onto win. They took a 9-0 lead and never looked back in game two.
Six Bears got a hit in game one, including a pair of pinch hits from
Zoey Keeton and
Megan Nethercutt. Game two saw another hit from Nethercutt and a pair of hits from
Sophie Kluesner and
Lillie Kluesner.
Game One
Mattea Ware got off to a great start in the first contest, striking out five of the first six hitters she faced.
UPIKE loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second, but Shawnee State caught the Bears in a pair of rundowns that resulted in a double play to end the inning.
Ware continued to pitch well, only allowing five hits all game while striking out eight. UPIKE escaped a bases loaded jam in the top of the fifth after three straight Shawnee State two-out hits loaded the bases. Ware proceeded to strike out the next hitter and keep the game tied 0-0.
The Bears had another great chance to score in the bottom of the sixth with runners on second and third and one out, but a pair of strikeouts ended the inning. The game went into extras where Shawnee State scored a pair with an RBI single and an RBI groundout to take a 2-0 lead to the bottom of the eighth. UPIKE wasn't able to score and dropped the game.
Game Two
UPIKE loaded the bases in the first and couldn't score as the game was scoreless heading to the fourth. A double with a throwing error put a runner at third for Shawnee State in the top of the fourth before an RBI single made it 1-0. They would add three more in the fifth and hold a 4-0 lead.
The lead would grow to 9-0, before UPIKE scored two in the final frame.
Lillie Kluesner hit an RBI infield single before
Kendall Hillard had an RBI fielder's choice before UPIKE fell in the game 9-2.
What's Up Next
These two teams return to Paul Butcher Field tomorrow afternoon for a doubleheader beginning at noon with UPIKE looking to split the series.