PIPPA PASSES, Ky. - The University of Pikeville baseball team notched its fifth win of the 2024 season with a 12-0 victory over Alice Lloyd College Tuesday afternoon.
UPIKE scored early and often in this one, notching three runs in the top of the first. Ryan Sartin was hit by a pitch, Riley Paulino walked, and Noah Helton walked to load the bases. Sartin tapped the dish one at-bat later after a sac fly by Austin Gurney. Tyler Maynard singled and Cam Revolt doubled to put UPIKE up 3-0 in the opening frame.
Two innings later, Maynard hit his first home run of the season. Two batters later, Noah Brooks doubled and Hunter Ferguson singled. With two on and two out, Sartin then singled to score Brooks and Ferguson. UPIKE led 6-0 after three.
The Bears added two more in the fifth that started with Brooks drawing a walk. Ferguson doubled, then Sartin reached on an error to score Ferguson and Sartin.
UPIKE added four more runs an inning later. The rally started when Maynard drew a walk and scored after a triple by Revolt. Francis Subero and Ferguson drew walks, then scored two batters later after a single by Paulino.
Ryan Ratliff made his first start on the mound this season and had quite a day. The Catlettsburg, Ky., native pitched 6.0 scoreless innings, allowed two hits and struck out four Eagles. Ratliff also retired 12 consecutive batters. Caleb Morrison closed out the Eagles in the seventh.
Coach Cody Andreychuk's squad is off to a 5-1 start to the season. Up next for the Bears is the program's first-ever AAC series as Columbia International (S.C.) University travels to Pikeville. The Bears will play a doubleheader against the Rams on Friday at noon, then will wrap up the series with a noon first pitch on Saturday at Johnnie LeMaster Field.
#BearDown