Pikeville, Ky. – After taking the first game of a double header, the Bears fell in games two and three to Georgetown Saturday afternoon. The series loss to the Tigers snapped the Bears' series win streak at four.
Game 1: UPIKE 12, Georgetown 9
UPIKE got off to a hot start in game one of the series, jumping out to a 5-1 lead in game one before being rained out after the fourth inning. When the Bears and Tigers picked it back up Saturday morning, GC tacked on a pair in the top of the fifth. The Bears offense continued to pour on the runs, hanging five in the sixth and another two in the seventh. Georgetown made it interesting with a rally in the eighth and ninth, but UPIKE ultimately prevailed 12-9.
Grayson Harris was credited with the win and Ethan Cernohous notched a save. Ryan Sartin, Tyler Maynard, Noah Helton and Greg Lile all had two hits in the game. Eight different Bears recorded at least RBI in game one.
Game 2: UPIKE 4, Georgetown 14
Just like game one, the Bears offense got off to a hot start. Tyler Maynard got UPIKE on the board with a single to right, scoring Kyle Williams. Maynard would cross the plate two batters later when Greg Lile singled to center. The Bears stretched their lead to 3-0 one inning later when Demarco Miller scored on a wild pitch.
Despite the hot start from UPIKE, the Tigers were not phased. Georgetown scored four runs and took the lead in the third. Georgetown's lead did not last long, however. In the bottom of the third, Noah Helton reached after a lead off single to right. Helton then stole second, then advanced to third and scored on the errant throw. Helton's game-tying score sent the UPIKE dugout, fans, and press box into a frenzy.
The Bears would not cross the plate after Helton's wild scoring play. Georgetown, however, scored at least one run in four of the next five innings. The Tigers ultimately took game two by a final count of 14-4.
Game 3: UPIKE 2, Georgetown 4
While games one and two featured a lot of hits and runs, game three was a pitcher's duel. Ryan Ratliff got the ball and pitched 6.0 innings, surrendering one run on five hits and striking out two. On the hill for Georgetown was Johan Castillo, who pitched 7.0 innings, surrendering zero runs on hits and striking out seven.
Georgetown struck first in the top of the second with a lead off home run to left. Despite the early homer, Ratliff was not phased. The junior from Catlettsburg, Ky. outdueled the Tiger offense over the next five innings, stranding seven GC baserunners.
Neither team scored again until the UPIKE offense applied the pressure in the bottom of the eighth. Ryan Sartin got it started with a double to right. Two batters later, Tyler Maynard singled to center then advanced to second, scoring Sartin and tying the game at 1-1. One batter later, Maynard crossed the plate and gave the Bears the lead after an RBI single by Noah Helton.
UPIKE's lead was short lived, as the Tigers rallied and scored three in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, the Bears put two runners on with one out but were unable to score them. Georgetown took the game 4-2 and the series 2-1.
The Bears will return to the Johnnie for their final home game of the season against the Union College Bulldogs Tuesday afternoon.
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