CLEVELAND, Ga. – A five-run rally in the top of the ninth fell just short as the Truett McConnell University held off the University of Pikeville 8-7 on Friday in the opener of a three-game AAC set.
 
The loss ended a seven-game winning streak by Pikeville.
 
UPike (20-19, 13-12 in the AAC) came to bat in the ninth trailing 8-2. Right fielder Austin Gurney reached on an infield single and DH Garren Gledhill followed with a double. When first baseman Marquis Richards reached on an error, the bases were loaded with none out.
 
One out later, a passed ball scored Gurney to make it 8-3 and move Gledhill and Richards into scoring position, followed by a walk drawn by third baseman Mason Melton to re-load the bases.
 
Catcher Tanner Gerosa reached on an error to score Gledhill to move the score to 8-4 and keep the bases loaded. Second baseman Cam Revolt delivered a double to center field that scored three runs and made it 8-7 with the tying run in scoring position and still only one out.
 
TMU (12-25, 9-16), however, changed pitchers, and Hank Simonds closed the door with a strikeout and ground out to pick up his first save of the season.
 
UPike wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, posting two in the top of the first.
 
Gerosa led off with a walk and Revolt was hit by a pitch. Center fielder Riley Paulino got the guests on the scoreboard with a single to right to score pinch runner Gavin Fraser.
 
Left fielder Noah Brooks then delivered Revolt with a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.
 
Unfortunately for UPike, that's where the inning would end.
 
Truett McConnell immediately took the lead, scoring four in the bottom of the first. It followed that with two in the fifth and adding single runs in the seventh and eighth to set the stage for the ninth-inning rally.
 
Revolt led the offensive attack with a single, double, three RBIs and a run scored. Gledhill had a double while Paulino, Gurney, Melton and shortstop Francis Subero all had singles.
 
Isaac Berry (4-3) pitched the first four innings and took the loss for UPike. Caleb Morrison threw the final four.
 
Lleyton Hallman (2-2) came on in relief and pitched five innings, allowing two hits and recording two strikeouts while pitching around five walks.
 
The teams will resume the series on Saturday at noon, playing the first game of a doubleheader.