Pike Liberal Arts head coach Butch Austin knew coming in to Monday’s matchup with Edgewood Academy his team was in for a challenge.

The Wildcats brought with them a battery as good as any in the state. Edgewood catcher Mitch Greer has signed with the University of Alabama while starting pitcher Cole Lipscomb inked a scholarship with Auburn.

The duo led the Wildcats to a 2-1 victory over Pike at Riddle-Pace Field.

Lipscomb held the Patriots to just three hits on the day with two coming off the bat of Josh Starling.

“He is a good one,” Austin said of Lipscomb. “He did a good job. We just didn’t get the hits when we needed them.”

Edgewood got all the offense it needed in the first inning. Pike starter Lawson Stewart hit the lead off batter then walked the next. After a fly out to left, Wildcat first baseman Dylan Ingram lined a double off the left field wall scoring both of the team’s runs. Stewart walked two more batters in the frame before center fielder Nick McLaughlin made a diving catch on a soft liner to end the inning.

Pike answered in the bottom half when Chandler Avant reached on an error by Rod Boykin in center. Another Wildcat error advanced Avant to third and Blake Floyd’s sacrifice fly to right scored the Patriots lone run.

Stewart would again see trouble in the third after a single and a walk put Edgewood in business. A pair of strikeouts helped the Patriots escape without damage.

Edgewood had a chance to pad its lead in the sixth but base running miscues would prove costly. A.J. Reynolds led off with a single but was thrown out by Floyd attempting to steal second. Lipscomb walked but his pinch runner was quickly picked off first base. Bailey Hanson would reach base on a throwing error but Stewart again used a strikeout avoid harm.

Pike pressured the Wildcats in the seventh when Starling led off with a single and was advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dalton Harris. Reed Dickey, representing the winning run, would reach base on a fielder’s choice but the Patriots could do no more as Lipscomb, who finished with eight strikeouts, earned a pair of punch-outs to close the game.

Stewart went the distance for the Patriots allowing four hits and five walks with four strikeouts.

Pike fell to 1-1 on the season and will hit the road to take on Northside Methodist on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1p.m.