PIPPA PASSES, Ky. – The University of Pikeville softball team got its season going on Thursday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with homestanding Alice Lloyd College.
 
The Eagles won the opener 1-0 without the benefit of a hit, while the Bears stormed back to take the nightcap 8-4.
 
The Bears will be back in action on Feb. 24 when they host Sienna Heights, Mich., at noon and then play Georgetown College at 4 p.m., with both games being played at Paul Butcher Field.
 
Eagles 1, Bears 0: The Bears won the proverbial battle but the Eagles won the war, scoring the only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh without the benefit of a hit the entire game.
 
Maleigh McDaniel opened the frame by reaching on an error. After she stole second, Aspyn Branham struck out but reached on a wild pitch to move McDaniel to third. Carlee Muncy then reached on a fielder's choice, allowing McDaniel to score the winning run.
 
The Bears had six hits but couldn't produce a run. Left fielder Maddie Horn had two hits. Second baseman Kaden Dunlap doubled, while centerfielder Maria McClellan, right fielder Sydney Stout and catcher Jamie Pollard each singled.
 
In the circle, CJ Alincic went the distance, striking out nine.
 
Bears 8, Eagles 4: The Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the first when catcher Mckenzie Orfield singled to drive in left fielder Rachel Rife, who led off with a double.
 
The Bears got on the scoreboard in the second when McClellan hit her first career home run, scoring third baseman Alyssa Franklin, who led off the frame with a double.
 
In the third, Franklin moved the lead to 4-1 with a two-run double. Horn and Dunlap, who had both walked, scored on the hit.
 
The Bears tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning. Sam Case led off and reached on an error, advancing to third on the play. She scored when Addison Johnson also reached on an error.
 
Dunlap made the score 7-1 when she blasted a home run.
 
The Bears made it 8-1 when Horn singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jasmine Kaylor in the sixth.
 
The Eagles scored two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
 
Chloe Bryant pitched the first three innings for the Bears, striking out four and allowing one run. She was followed by Kelsie Hardester for two frames before Kaylor closed it out.