BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - UPIKE baseball fell 8-4 to Union College in their final AAC game of the season Sunday.
Union got on the board first with one run in the first. UPIKE responded two innings later when Tyler Maynard hit a three-bagger to right field, then scored after Noah Helton grounded out 5-3. Union would retake the lead in the fourth, plating one run. The Bulldogs plated another in the fifth, then three in the sixth to go up 6-1.
Tyler Freas led off the top of the seventh with a base hit to left, then scored two batters later after a triple by Noah Helton. Helton would score shortly after when Austin Gurney hit a single to right to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 6-3. Union responded with a pair of runs in the next frame.
In the top of the ninth, Noah Helton drew a one-out walk then advanced to second after Austin Gurney grounded out to second base. Riley Paulino checked into the game to pinch hit and drew a walk. Noah Helton stole third base, then tapped the dish for the Bears' fourth run of the afternoon when Francis Subero hit an RBI single to right field. The game ended on a fielder's choice out at second and the Bulldogs took game three 8-4. The Bears scored four runs on nine hits but struggled in run support. As a team, the Bears stranded 12 baserunners.
The Bears still took the series despite today's loss, which is their fourth consecutive series victory. Bears baseball is 29-16 (20-9 AAC) following Sunday's result. UPIKE will hit the diamond again Tuesday afternoon when they travel up the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway for a doubleheader against their old Mid-South Conference foes, the Georgetown College Tigers.
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