PORTSMOUTH – The Shawnee State baseball team dropped a tough 3-2 decision on Friday, April 13 in the series-opener against University of Pikeville Bears. Scheduled to play a single nine-inning game the teams needed an extra inning to decide the outcome.
The Bears (25-23, 6-13) got a strong effort from starting pitcher Cody Strayer, who tossed nine innings allowing three runs –two which were earned— on 10 hits while striking out five batters in the losing effort. Shawnee State also got a combined seven hits from Joe Henderson (2-for-4), Colin Keim (3-for-4), and Dustin Bickmeyer (2-for-3) on the day.
The Bears jumped on Pikeville first in the top of the third inning. After Strayer allowed no hits in the first two innings Shawnee State scored the game's first run when Keim hit a sacrifice fly ball with one-out with bases loaded.
After Strayer allowed only one hit in the third and fourth innings the Bears were able to extend their lead in the top of the fifth. After Tyler Bice reached second base on an error, Henderson hit a one-out single to drive home the games second run.
However, Pikeville came right back in the bottom half of the inning with a run of their own to cut the deficit to 2-1. Pikeville continued to plug away in the seventh. After the Bears left a runner on third in the top half of the inning, Pikeville took advantage and tied the game up at 2-2.
The Pikeville run ended up forcing extra innings as both teams were unable to get a run across home plate over the final two innings.
Pitching into the 10th inning, Strayer gave up a double to start the bottom of half of the inning. The extra base hit eventually led to the winning run as Pikeville singled with two-outs to defeat the Bears.
The two teams will be right back in action on Saturday, April 13 at LeMaster Field. The two teams will have a doubleheader affair which is scheduled to begin at noon.
