UPIKE Athletics

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The University of Pikeville softball team scored the only run it would need in the fourth inning but picked up some insurance late to knock off Columbia (S.C.) College 5-0 in the AAC softball tournament on Tuesday.
 
The game was scheduled for 11 a.m. at Brickyard Ball Fields, the first of four games on the slate. Overnight rains caused the league to continue pushing the start time back. In the end, two games started on adjoining fields at 7 p.m., with two to follow at 9 p.m.
 
UPike, the fifth-seed, played in the 7 p.m. session.
 
The win improved the Bears to 28-14, extending their school-record for wins in a season.
 
The teams were scoreless through the first three innings, combining for only four hits. But in the fourth, the Bears finally pushed across a run.
 
Claudia Maness drew a one-out walk, and freshman Cate Salyers came on to run in her stead. Infield singles by Maddie Horn and Addison Johnson loaded the bases with two outs.
 
A third hit in the frame – another that didn't leave the infield – off the bat of all-conference player Dani Crum delivered Salyers with the go-ahead run.
 
It stayed that way until the top of the seventh, although the Koalas had ample opportunities to score. They left five runners on in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, bringing UPike to the plate in the seventh with a 1-0 lead.
 
This time Crum got it started with a one-out hit and stole second. Alexis Emery followed with a single to left center to score Crum and make it 2-0.
 
After Kaden Dunlap singled, Chloy Creech tripled down the line in left to score Abby Hess – running for Emery – and Dunlap to make it 4-0. Creech scored when Chloe Bryant grounded out to make it 5-0.
 
Bryant then walked the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the seventh but settled down to strike out the next three batters for her fourth save of the season.
 
Crum had three of UPike's 10 hits, while Emery and Horn had two each. Creech's triple was the only extra-base hit, while Dunlap and Johnson had hits.
 
Chloe Calton pitched the first five innings for the win, improving to 7-6 on the season. She allowed four hits and struck out three.
 
The Bears advanced to play No. 8 Columbia International in a game scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, weather permitting.