Pikeville, Ky. - After losing a pitcher's duel in game one, the Bears split today's double header with the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders after a wild, 6-5 comeback win in game two.
Game 1 - UPIKE 0, Lindsey Wilson 2
Game one between UPIKE and Lindsey Wilson was a classic pitcher's duel. Both Jairemy Pulido and LWC ace Cohen Achen pitched a full seven innings for their respective teams.
After three scoreless innings for both teams, the Blue Raiders scored first with an RBI double. Lindsey Wilson took a 2-0 lead in the top of the sixth, but neither team scored again after. The Bears struggled mightily at the plate, generating just one hit off of Lindsey Wilson's ace. UPIKE's lone hit came off the bat of Noah Helton in the second inning.
Jairemy Pulido had another great outing today. The graduate from Pomona, Calif. threw 81 pitches, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out two.
Game 2 - UPIKE 6, Lindsey Wilson 5
Kameron Brodeur got the start for the Bears in game two but ran into some trouble early. Lindsey Wilson loaded the bases in the opening frame, but Brodeur and the Bears' defense kept the Blue Raiders off the scoreboard with a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Lindsey Wilson broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth with a solo shot to left field. The Blue Raiders added four more in the top of the sixth after a sacrifice fly and a three-run blast to right field.
After stranding five runners from innings one to six, the Bears offense finally broke through. It started with Tyler Freas walking and subsequently advancing to second after an errant pickoff attempt. Freas then advanced to third on a wild pitch, then crossed home plate after a single by Samuel Torres. Demarco Miller then checked into the game to pinch run for UPIKE's catcher. Miller then advanced to third after a 5-3 groundout by Tate Walters, who made his first collegiate start for the Bears today.
After Walters' productive out, Ryan Sartin hit a two-out triple to right center to score Demarco Miller. Two batters later, Tyler Maynard cut the LWC lead to two with a single to left. After seven, the Bears trailed 5-3.
Ethan Cernohous came in to pitch for UPIKE in the eighth and held the Blue Raiders scoreless, setting up for an eventful bottom half of the inning.
Noah Brooks tripled to right then scored after a sacrifice groundout by Tyler Freas. Later on in the inning, Ryan Sartin stepped to the plate with two outs and runners in scoring position. Just like the seventh, Sartin came through with another extra base hit to tie the game.
In the top of the ninth, Ethan Cernohous extended his scoreless relief streak to five after retiring the Blue Raiders in order. Tyler Maynard got the bottom of the ninth started with a single to left field, then stole second. With one out and a chance to win it for UPIKE, DH Greg Lile came through with a walk-off single to center field. The Bears took this one 6-5 and evened the series at 1-1.
The Bears and Blue Raiders will meet again Sunday at 1:00 PM for game three.
#BearNation
