The University of Pikeville softball team set a school record on Tuesday when it closed the regular season with a sweep of Truett McConnell (Ga.) University at Paul Butcher Field.
 
The wins, by scores of 7-2 and 13-9, gave the Bears a 27-13 regular season, the most wins in a single season for the orange and black. They also finished 15-11 in the AAC and will ride a five-game winning streak into the postseason.
 
TMU also finished 15-11 in the league, but because the Bears won both games on Tuesday afternoon, they won the tie-breaker and will be the fifth-seed in next week's conference tournament in Kingsport, Tenn.
 
The league will announce the bracket for the tournament later this week when the Bears will learn who and when they'll play.
 
UPike 7, TMU 2: UPike used a five-run bottom of the second to establish a lead it never relinquished.
 
Truett, which scored in the top of the first, only managed a fifth-inning run in retaliation, but UPike answered with one in the bottom half.
 
UPike got most of its production from the top of the order, where Dani Crum and Alexis Emery combined to go 4 of 8 with five RBIs and a run scored. Both of Emery's hits were doubles and she drove in three, while Crum drove in two and scored a run.
 
Those two were combined with centerfielder Addison Johnson, who also had two hits in the nine hole, scoring two and driving in one, to key the win.
 
The other hit came off the bat of Chloy Creech, who also scored a run. Rylee Carter, Maddie Horn and Ashlyn Dixon also scored for the Bears.
 
Chloe Calton pitched the first five innings to pick up the win, improving to 6-6 on the season. She struck out five and worked around five hits. Chloe Bryant closed it out, striking out three in two innings of work.
 
UPike 13, TMU 9: UPike trailed 1-0 and 5-2 before posting eight runs in the third, winning despite two four-run innings for Truett thanks to pounding out 16 hits.
 
Crum and Carter had identical stat lines: three hits, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Four other players – Caden Dunlap, Creech, Horn and Johnson – each had two hits.
 
Dunlap, Creech and Johnson all had doubles. Dunlap scored twice and drove one in, while Creech also crossed the dish twice. Horn scored and drove one in, while Johnson added a run.
 
Emory had a hit, an RBI and scored, while Dixon drove in two and scored. Pinch runner Ella Farley also scored.
 
Bryant came on in relief again and got the win, throwing 4-1/3 to improve to 8-3. She struck out four.