PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Bryan College went on the road needing a series win to firm up its conference footing, but the University of Pikeville Bears had other plans. The Bears took two of three from the Lions over a Saturday doubleheader and Friday's opener, clinching the series and leaving Bryan at 20–19 overall and 13–8 in conference play.
Game 1 — Pikeville 7, Bryan 5
Starter
Tanner Everett, was knocked around for seven earned runs over 5.1 innings and could not escape the sixth. Pikeville's Teague Van Dyke was sharp, holding Bryan to just two earned runs over 7.1 innings to earn the win. A late Lions rally —
Morgan Halliday's two-run double in the eighth and a
Caleb Ramsey RBI double in the ninth — trimmed the deficit to 7–5, but Bryan could not complete the comeback.
Game 2 — Pikeville 15, Bryan 11
The first game of Saturday's doubleheader belonged to the Bears. Pikeville scored three in the first and erupted for seven more in the third inning, taking a 10–4 lead Bryan could never fully overcome. Four errors by the Lions allowed several unearned runs to cross the plate, and Bryan burned through four pitchers trying to keep pace.
Denajh Williams was outstanding for the Lions, clubbing two home runs and driving in five, while
Cade Cook chipped in three RBI on a pair of doubles. But the defensive breakdowns proved too costly, and Pikeville pulled away.
Game 3 — Bryan 12, Pikeville 7
The Lions closed the series with a victory in the doubleheader nightcap, building a 10–0 lead through five innings.
Cyrus Campos homered and drove in three,
Morgan Halliday doubled in two, and
Brodie Genter added a two-RBI single. Pikeville rallied for six in the fifth to make it 10–6, but Bryan answered with two more in the seventh to close out the win.
Ty Johnson earned the victory.
Bryan committed nine errors across the three games and allowed 29 runs — one more than they scored — surrendering the series despite a capable offensive weekend. The Lions will need to clean up their defense and settle their pitching rotation as conference play continues.
They will host UT Southern in a midweek match up on Tuesday.
