PIKEVILLE, Ky. - UPIKE baseball rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning to win 5-4 over Montreat in game one of a three-game series.  

Tyler Maynard led off the fourth with a leadoff single, then scored after Cam Revolt tripled to right field. Revolt now leads the AAC in triples following the RBI triple. Revolt would score two batters later after Noah Brooks singled to left. After four, UPIKE led 2-0.  

The Cavaliers struck back with one swing of the bat in the sixth. With two on and one out, the Cavaliers took a 3-2 lead after a three-run blast to center field. Austin Gurney tied the game in the seventh with a two-out, solo shot to right.  

Montreat retook the lead in the eighth after an RBI triple to center field. A half inning later, Francis Subero belted a double to the gap in left center to get into scoring position, then Noah Brooks drew a walk. Subero and Brooks advanced after a productive out by Tyler Freas but were left stranded.  

The Bears kept the Cavaliers off the scoreboard in the top of the ninth, giving the Bears a chance to walk it off. Samuel Torres led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to center. Connor Moody checked into the game as a courtesy runner for the UPIKE catcher, and advanced to third after Noah Helton singled to right. Montreat intentionally walked Austin Gurney to load the bases with no one out. With the bases juiced and no outs, Tyler Maynard walked it off with a single to center to win it for the Bears.  

Riley Paulino started on the mound for the Bears and notched his sixth win of the season. The left-hander from Fife, Wash., pitched a complete game, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out ten.  

With the win, the Bears are now 21-10 overall and 13-5 in AAC play. UPIKE and Montreat will be back in action Saturday at noon for games two and three.  

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