Tuesday, the Union Pines' varsity baseball and softball teams were swept by the Southern Lee Cavaliers in Cape Fear Valley (CFV) conference action.

The Vike girls saw a 4-2 lead slip away in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Cavs rallied to defeat Union Pines 5-4 in Sanford. The Vikings' league record is now 2-8 with an overall mark of 4-13.

Just down U.S. 1 a stretch, the Vikes boys were belted 14-3 by Southern Lee in Cameron. The loss was the Vike baseball team's fifth in a row, and second straight defeat in CFV competition, as Union Pines is now 3-7 in the conference and 5-12 overall.

Union Pines, who fell to the Cavs 4-2 early in the season, came into the conference game needing a win to get back on track with meeting its team goal of qualifying for the state playoffs. Union Pines must at least finish in fifth place in the CFV final standings in order to earn a playoff berth.

The Vikes began the tilt with an inauspicious start, committing four errors in the top of the first as the Cavs jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings. Union Pines got back in the ball game, scoring three runs on four hits in the bottom of the third to cut Southern Lee's lead to 5-3. Terry Burge had an RBI single, while Nevin Wilson drove in two runs with a sizzling single down the third-base line.

However, the Cavaliers immediately answered back in the top of the fourth, batting around to score four runs on five hits to take a commanding 8-3 lead. Southern Lee would go on to plate six runs in their final two at-bats, as the Vike pitchers issued eight free passes and allowed three extra-base hits.

The Vike offense could only muster four hits in the game, while the Cavs tallied 14.

Union Pines plays its next CFV game Tuesday, in Angier, against the current tied for second-place Harnett Central Trojans at 7 p.m. The Vikes then host Triton, the other team currently tied for second in league play, before traveling to South Johnston. The Vikes close the regular season at home against Western Harnett.

With four CFV games remaining for Union Pines the current standings are: Gray's Creek 7-2, 11-5; Triton 6-2; Harnett Central 6-2, 10-7; Southern Lee 5-2, 11-5; South Johnston 4-5, 8-8; Union Pines 3-7, 5-12; Western Harnett 1-6, 4-12; Overhills 1-7, 4-13.