MIDWAY, Ky., - UPIKE baseball won its sixth consecutive game Wednesday, winning 14-12 at (RV) Midway.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a single to left field. UPIKE answered back two innings later, starting with a walk by Samuel Brown. Brown crossed the plate one batter later when Tyler Maynard hit a two-run blast to left center. Noah Helton got on base, then advanced on a wild pitch, then scored after an RBI single to right by Austin Gurney.
Hunter Ferguson led off the fourth with a walk, then Connor Moody checked in to pinch run. Moody second, then advanced after a single by Ian Setzer. Tyler Freas tacked on another run and an RBI after a sac fly to right, scoring Moody. The Bears scored again in the fifth after a solo home run by Austin Gurney and led 5-1 midway through the fifth. The Eagles cut the Bears' lead in half one frame later after a leadoff walk and a home run to center field.
UPIKE and Midway combined for ten runs in the seventh. Samuel Brown led off the inning with a walk, then was out at second after a fielder's choice. Cam Revolt then drew a walk, advancing Tyler Maynard to second. Then, Noah Helton belted one to the gap in right center, scoring both Maynard and Revolt. Helton then advanced to third after a single by Austin Gurney, then they both tapped the dish after a three-run blast by Noah Brooks. UPIKE led 10-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, but the Eagles responded with five runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.
The Bears were not fazed by the Eagles' flurry of runs, getting four back in the top of the eighth. Samuel Brown hit a one-out double to the right-center gap, then scored after a single by Tyler Maynard. Cam Revolt reached base after a fielder's choice, then advanced to second after Noah Helton was hit by a pitch for the sixth time this season. With two on and two out, Austin Gurney gave the Bears a six-run lead with a three-run blast, his second homer of the day and fourth of the season.
The Eagles mounted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth, scoring four runs. Isaac Berry then checked into the game to pitch and shut the door on Midway's comeback bid. Berry struck out one then ended the game on a fly out to left and the Bears took this one 14-12.
Ryan Ratliff got the start on the mound for the Bears and improved his record to 2-0 after 4.1 innings of work. Ratliff threw 89 pitches, allowed three runs on five hits, and struck out one.
Next up for UPIKE is an AAC showdown with Bryan College. The Bears and Lions will play a doubleheader Friday starting at noon, then will wrap up the series with one game on Saturday at Johnnie LeMaster Field.
#BearDown
