PULASKI, Tenn. -- First baseman Tyler Maynard had a weekend he'll never forget and helped the University of Pikeville advance to Bowling Green next weekend for the resumption of the Mid-South Conference baseball tournament after beating UT-Southern two games to one.
Maynard, a junior from Louisa, finished the weekend 8-of-15 from the plate with two doubles and two home runs, driving in eight and scoring seven times to lead the Bears past the Firehawks. UPIKE had a win on Saturday and needed to split Sunday's doubleheader to advance.
After falling 6-5 in the opener, an 11-10 win in the nightcap sent the Bears on in the tournament.
Maynard had plenty of help, beginning with leadoff hitter Ryan Sartin, who had two hits and scored twice in all three games and added a pair of RBIs. Shortstop Kyle Williams was 5-of-11 with seven runs scored and four RBIs, while Noah Brooks finished 5-of-11 with five RBI and two runs scored on the weekend.
UPIKE will take a 23-26 worksheet into next week's tournament, while UT-Southern fell to 33-18.
Bears 11, Firehawks 10: A wild finale to the three-game series went the Bears way after catcher Sammy Torres blasted a two-out solo home run in the top of the 7th inning to put the Bears in front to stay.
UPIKE scored in each of the first four innings but couldn't gain a measure of control. After plating two in the first, the Firehawks responded to tie the game before the frame ended. UPIKE pushed across single runs in the second and third before scoring four times in the fourth to regain the lead, only to see Southern post four more in the bottom of the inning to tie it at 8-8.
The scene repeated itself in the sixth as both teams scored a pair of runs before Torres' dinger put the Bears in the lead for good.
While Maynard was terrific again, going 3-for-5 with a double, driving in three and scoring twice, he had more than enough help from the top of the order. Designated hitter Noah Helton was 2-of-4 with a double and his team-best 14th home run of the season, driving in four and scoring two times.
Sartin had two hits, scoring twice and driving one in, while Brooks doubled and had two RBIs. Williams doubled and scored two times. Despite not having a hit, senior right fielder Demarco Miller scored two times for the Bears.
Freshman Richtter Castillo (2-0) pitched the final four innings to earn the win. He struck out eight, walked one and allowed only two hits.
Firehawks 6, Bears 5: A pair of three-run innings evened the series and forced a decisive game to advance to Bowling Green for next week's tournament run.
The Bears jumped on top 1-0 in the first inning when Sartin reached on a single and advanced to third on an error. He scored when shortstop Kyle Williams reached on an infield error.
After the Firehawks posted three runs in the bottom of the third, the Bears posted another run in the fourth. It came when Sartin singled to left center to plate courtesy runner Miller.
The Bears regained the lead in the top of the seventh. Maynard hit a home run to right to make it 4-3. Williams, who had singled, scored in front of him.
The lead was short lived, as Southern scored three times in the bottom of the inning. Michael Wurtz put the Firehawks in front to stay with a two-run single. A Josh Porter RBI single make it 6-4.
In the ninth, Sartin singled and scored when Maynard grounded into a double play.
Nathan Curtis (6-6) pitched seven innings, scattering eight hits while striking out five and walking two. Josh Simmons threw the ninth for his third save of the season.
Jairemy Pulido (3-6) took the decision for the Bears, throwing 6-plus innings.
