GRAYSON, Ky. – Thanks to home runs by both Gurney brothers, the University of Pikeville returned to league play on Friday and picked up a doubleheader sweep of Kentucky Christian University.
 
The Bears took the first game 13-10 before winning the second game 10-5.
 
The wins evened UPike's record at 10-10 on the season. They're now 5-6 in the AAC. KCU is now 8-8 overall, 2-6 in the conference.
 
The teams will return to the field on Saturday for the series finale. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
 
Bears 13, Knights 10: Catcher Tanner Gerosa had three hits including a double and homer while driving in four and scoring three in the opening-game win.
 
The Bears dug themselves a 9-5 hole before scoring seven in the sixth.
 
First baseman Austin Gurney and left fielder Noah Brooks had two hits apiece. Gurney hit a two-run homer and scored twice, while Brooks doubled and drove in a pair.
 
Center fielder Riley Paulino singled, drove in two and scored, while third baseman Mason Melton had a hit and scored twice.
 
Richter Castillo came on in relief and pitched the final 4-2/3 to improve to 2-0. He struck out eight, walked none and allowed only one run in relief of Caleb Morrison, who went the first 4-1/3.
 
Bears 10, Knights 5: UPike jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and after KCU plated four in the fourth, scored five times in the top of the fifth to pull away.
 
The Bears scored 10 runs on only five hits.
 
The scoring began with three in the second as catcher Rob Gurney blasted a three-run home run. In the third, the lead expanded to 5-0 when shortstop Francis Subero tripled to score Garren Gledhill, and then scored on a double by right fielder Cole Fowler.
 
After the Knights scored four runs in the fourth, keyed by an infield error, the Bears put it away with five in the fifth. They did so with only one hit, an RBI single by Fowler.
 
Gurney had four RBIs and scored twice in the win. Subero and Fowler had two hits each. Subero tripled, scored three times and drove in one, while Fowler had a double, driving in two and scoring once.
 
Starting pitcher Shaye McTavish pitched the first four innings to improve to 2-3 on the season. He struck out five and didn't allow an earned run. Dylan Wellcome closed it out for his first save, allowing two hits and picking up a strikeout.