Crestview Hills, KY – The University of Pikeville ended the regular season on Saturday afternoon with a split at Thomas More University, with the Saints winning game one 8-0 and the Bears flipping the script with an 8-0 win in game two.
Lillie Kluesner,
Haleigh Jones, and
Kendall Hillard all had three hits to lead UPIKE at the plate during the doubleheader. Kluesner finished with three RBI while Jones finished with one RBI.
Game One
UPIKE struggled to get anything going in the first contest, falling behind 3-0 after the second inning. They had two runners in scoring position during the 8-0 loss.
Game Two
After not getting anyone on in the first two innings, the Bears came alive in the top of the third. A pair of singles put runners at first and second with one out.
Lillie Kluesner then drove in
Mary Oxford with a double to take a 1-0 lead before
Sophie Kluesner followed it up with an RBI single to take a 2-0 lead.
In the fourth, UPIKE loaded the bases with one out.
Katelyn Byrd delivered an RBI single to make it 3-0 before another
Lillie Kluesner double brought in the final two runs of the inning to take a convincing 5-0 lead. An Oxford sacrifice fly made it 6-0 in the fifth, and Jones hit an RBI single in the seventh as the Bears cruised to an 8-0 win.
Mattea Ware completely shut down the Saints offense, only allowing four hits and striking out three for her ninth win of the season. She needed just 63 pitches for the complete game shutout. UPIKE's 11 hits is the most they had in a conference game all season.
What's Up Next
UPIKE's overall record after the regular season is 14-34. The Bears will await their opponent in the upcoming Mid-South Conference tournament beginning on Friday, April 29th in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
