PIKEVILLE, Ky. - Bears baseball swept their first-ever conference doubleheader with a pair of victories over Columbia International Friday afternoon at Johnnie LeMaster Field.
Game 1: UPIKE 6, CIU, 5
Austin Gurney led off the second inning with a walk then immediately stole second. Gurney then advanced to third after Cam Revolt flew out to right, then tapped the dish after Francis Subero singled to right.
One inning later, Tyler Maynard walked, then advanced to third two batters later after a single by Austin Gurney. Cam Revolt then added an RBI infield single to score Maynard. UPIKE led 2-0 after three.
In the bottom of the fourth, Samuel Torres blasted a ball to right center field for a one out double. Ian Setzer checked into the game to run for Torres, then scored after a two out single to center field by Ryan Sartin.
Just like they did in innings two, three, and four, the Bears tapped the dish again in the fifth. Francis Subero got the rally started with a walk and a stolen base. With one on and two outs, Noah Brooks hit a two-run blast to left field for his first home run of the season. After five innings, UPIKE held a 5-0 lead.
The Rams would not go away quietly, however, as they plated one run in the sixth and added two more in the seventh. In the top of the eighth, the Rams knotted the game at 5-5 with a two-out single to left.
In the bottom of the eighth, Samuel Torres led off and was hit by a pitch. Ian Setzer checked back in the game, advanced to second after a pass ball, then made his way to third after a pinch-hit productive out by Greg Lile. With one out and Setzer in scoring position, Ryan Sartin blasted a ball to right center for a double, scoring Setzer and putting UPIKE up 6-5.
Leading 6-5 in the top of the ninth, Richtter Castillo, who had already pitched 1.2 innings, stayed in the game to get the final three outs. Castillo struck out the lead off hitter, then Francis Subero connected with Austin Gurney 6-3 for out number two, and Castillo caught the final batter looking at a called strike three to end the game. Castillo finished the game with 2.2 innings pitched, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four Rams.
On the mound, Riley Paulino saw his pitching record rise to 3-0 after 6.0 innings of work. The senior left-hander from Fife, Wash., allowed one run on five hits while striking out four.
Game 2: UPIKE 17, CIU 6
After Shaye McTavish struck out two and pitched a scoreless first inning, Ryan Sartin and Riley Paulino drew walks in the bottom of the first. Sartin and Paulino then advanced to second and third, respectively, after a wild pitch to Austin Gurney. Gurney then walked to load the bases, putting Tyler Maynard at the dish with the bases loaded and one out. Maynard came through with a single to right, scoring Sartin and Paulino. After one, the Bears were up 2-0.
The Bears tacked on two more runs an inning later after Francis Subero was hit by a pitch. One at-bat later, Noah Brooks tripled to right center, scoring Subero, then scored himself after an errant throw by CIU's shortstop.
UPIKE blew game two wide open in the third after Francis Subero was hit by a pitch again. Subero advanced to second after Noah Brooks was also hit by a pitch. Ian Setzer then checked in for Subero, then scored after Hunter Ferguson singled to left. Tyler Freas then checked in for Ferguson, then along with Brooks, scored after Ryan Sartin belted one to the gap in left field. With Riley Paulino at the plate, Sartin advanced to third after an error by the pitcher. Paulino drew a walk, then made his way to second after a wild pitch that scored Sartin. Paulino scored the eighth run of the game after a passed ball. The final run of the inning was knocked in by Austin Gurney with a single to right field. UPIKE led 9-0 after three.
The Rams tacked on a pair in the top of the fourth, but the Bears got the runs back after an RBI double by Hunter Ferguson and an RBI single by Ryan Sartin. In the fifth, Noah Helton hit a leadoff triple to left center, then scored after a single to right by Austin Gurney. Gurney would score after a pair of wild pitches and a single to center by Ian Setzer.
CIU added two runs in the top of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Marques Richards, Riley Paulino, and Noah Helton hit back-to-back-to-back singles to start the inning. With the bases loaded and no outs, Austin Gurney added four more RBIs after blasting a grand slam to right field. The Rams scored two in the top of the seventh before Riley Hartline struck out the final two batters he faced to give UPIKE a 17-6 victory.
The Bears offense scored at least two runs in all six innings they batted. UPIKE finished game two with 17 runs on 16 hits, led by Austin Gurney with three hits and five RBIs. Ryan Sartin, Noah Helton, Tyler Maynard, Ian Setzer, and Hunter Ferguson all finished the game with two hits.
Today's sweep of the Rams gives the Bears their first-ever AAC series victory and moves their record to 7-1 and 2-0 in conference play. Coach Cody Andreychuk's team will be back on the diamond Saturday for the series finale. First pitch of game three is set for noon at Johnnie LeMaster Field.
#BearDown
