PIKEVILLE, Ky. - University of Pikeville baseball split a doubleheader with Truett McConnell University Saturday afternoon at Johnnie LeMaster Field.
Game 1: UPIKE 10, Truett McConnell 5
Noah Helton got the Bears on the board early in the bottom of the first with a solo shot to left center. Three innings later, the Bears added three more.
Noah Brooks wore a fastball to open the fourth then advanced to second after Francis Subero drew a walk. Subero and Brooks then stole second and third, respectively, then Brooks scored on an errant throw and Subero made it to third. One batter later, Hunter Ferguson put the Bears up 3-0 after sending a fastball to the gap in right center to score Subero.
Two batters later, Tyler Freas was hit by a pitch, putting two runners on with Tyler Maynard at the plate. Maynard reached an infield single, and everyone was safe. UPIKE added another run after a sacrifice fly to center by Cam Revolt. Coach Cody Andreychuk's squad led 4-0 after four.
Hunter Ferguson led off the sixth with a solo home run to left, the first of his UPIKE career. Truett McConnell got a run back in the top of the seventh, to which UPIKE responded with a pair of runs in the next frame. Noah Helton and Austin Gurney hit back-to-back singles, then both scored after Noah Brooks hit a two-bagger to left.
TMU scored four in the top of the eighth to cut the UPIKE lead to 7-5. In the bottom of the eighth, the Bears added some insurance runs to put the game out of reach. Tyler Freas got the rally started after an excellent bunt. Two batters later, Cam Revolt singled to left to put two on with one out. Freas scored from second after Noah Helton recorded his fourth hit of game one. Cam Revolt advanced to third after a fielder's choice, then scored after a wild pitch. Francis Subero put the Bears up 10-5 after a single to score Gurney. Richtter Castillo closed out the game in the top of the ninth and the UPIKE Bears took game one.
Riley Paulino stayed undefeated on the mound, hurling 130 pitches over 7.0 innings of work, allowing one run on four hits and striking out seven.
Game 2: Truett McConnell 2, UPIKE 0
Shaye McTavish got the start on the mound for game two and had a fantastic outing. McTavish pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out five, and recording six scoreless innings. TMU did, however, score two in the top of the third which proved to be game winners.
UPIKE's bats struggled mightily in game two, mustering up just three hits. The Bears' best chance to get back in the game came in the bottom of the seventh, which began with a leadoff walk by Noah Helton. Two batters later, Tyler Maynard singled to left to put Helton in scoring position with Noah Brooks at the plate. Brooks grounded into a fielder's choice and then was hit with a runner interference to end the game.
With today's split, Coach Cody Andreychuk's team is 25-14 and 17-8 in conference play. The grudge match between UPIKE and Truett McConnell will take place Sunday at noon with the series on the line.
#BearDown
