PIKEVILLE, Ky.— The Montreat baseball team traveled to Pikeville, Ky. Friday afternoon for the start of an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series between the Cavaliers and the University of Pikeville Bears. While neither team could win the 3-game set with the final two matchups slated for tomorrow afternoon, the hosts landed the first punch thanks to a walk-off 5-4 triumph. Following the defeat, Montreat's record moved to 18-15-1 (8-7 AAC) on the year.
 
Daniel Willie hurled three scoreless innings to open the matchup, but the Cavs also came up empty at the plate across the same span, leaving the two sides knotted at zero through three frames of action.
 
Pikeville (21-10, 13-5 AAC) broke the deadlock with a 4-hit fourth, plating a pair of runners to move in front, 2-0; however, Tommy Ramos and the Montreat offense eventually found their groove.
 
The Cavaliers had just one hit through five innings, but three consecutive knocks in the top of the sixth handed the visitors their advantage. Mitch Ball and Jaider Morelos notched back-to-back singles, while Ramos cleared the bases via his team-leading 12^th home run of the season.
 
UPIKE leveled the ballgame at 3-3 thanks to a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh. Ramos had an answer, though, and he reclaimed the lead during the following half-inning. The Hialeah, Fla. native tripled to center, driving home a run and claiming a 4-3 edge in the process.
 
Despite the sudden shift in momentum, the Bears proved undeterred. While the hosts stranded a pair in scoring position during the eighth frame, they capitalized on their opportunity during the bottom of the ninth. Pikeville's initial four batters reached safely in the final inning, capped off by a walk-off 2-run single that clinched UPIKE's 5-4 victory.
 
Montreat's top three in the batting order—Ramos (3-4), Morelos (2-3) and Ball (1-3)—combined for six of the Cavs' seven hits. Ramos drove in all four runs, while Morelos scored twice. Willie struck out nine across his seven innings of work, and Joe Tomasello threw a shutout eighth frame.
 
The Montreat baseball team resumes its series with Pikeville tomorrow afternoon. First pitch of the conference doubleheader is scheduled for 12 p.m. in Pikeville, Ky.