LAURINBURG, N.C. – A seven-run third inning was enough to give the University of Pikeville an 11-0 win over St. Andrews University in the opening game of a three-game AAC series on Friday.
 
The seven-run inning was one of three times the Bears scored, picking up multiple runs in all three innings.
 
The win pushed the Bears to 23-11 on the season. More importantly, they are 15-6 in the league, which is good for second place.
 
The offense began in the second when Austin Gurney led off with a double. He scored what would prove to be the winning run when Cam Revolt doubled, and he scored on a sacrifice fly by Francis Subero.
 
The big frame was the third when the Bears sent 11 to the plate, bringing seven of them across. Ian Setzer singled, Sammy Torres was hit by a pitch and Noah Helton singled to load the bases. A single by Gurney delivered Setzer and Torres to make it 4-0.
 
Tyler Maynard singled to load the bases again, and Revolt came through once more with a two-run single. Two outs later, Tyler Freas was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the third time in the inning, and Setzer delivered his second hit of the frame, a three-run double, to make it 9-0.
 
The final runs came across in the seventh. Revolt walked and Subero blasted a home run, his fourth of the season.
 
Meanwhile, Riley Paulino had little trouble on the mound. He pitched all seven innings, allowing five hits while striking out six in the shutout performance. He kept his record perfect on the season at 7-0.
 
UPike matched its run total with 11 hits. Four Bears – Setzer, Gurney, Revolt and Freas – had two knocks apiece. Each had a double as well.
 
Subero homered while Helton and Maynard had a hit each.
 
Setzer, Revolt and Subero drove in three runs while Gurney plated two.
 
St. Andrews, which is 19-13 overall, fell to 7-10 in the conference.
 
The Bears and Knights are scheduled to wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is at noon.