The power surge continued for Union Pines baseball Monday as the Vikings defeated Douglas Byrd 18-2 in five innings.

With the Cape Fear Valley Conference mercy-rule victory, Union Pines improved to 9-1 in league play and 15-4 overall on the season. It was the fourth straight game in which the Vikings have scored 14 or more runs. Over that span, Union Pines is averaging 17.75 runs per contest.

In the bottom of the first inning, the homestanding Vikings sent 15 batters to the plate, collecting nine runs on five hits, three HPs and three walks. In its second at bat, Union Pines plated six more runs on seven hits to take a commanding 15-0 lead.

Junior shortstop Justin Allred remained red hot with the bat going 3-for-3 on the night with four RBIs, three runs and a towering home run that cleared the light standard in left center field by more than 20 feet.

Senior leadoff hitter and center fielder Gabe Gonzalez went 3-for-4 in the contest with three runs, a walk and an RBI, while junior Seth Breasseale finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs and a HP.

Noble Davis got the win on the mound for U.P. In four innings of work, the sophomore allowed two earned runs on three hits and one walk while fanning six.

With just two league games remaining in their CFVC season the Vikes are alone in first place, one game in front of Southern Lee. Union Pines hosts Cardinal Gibbons today in a 5 p.m. nonconference game, before traveling to North Moore to close its week with another nonconference contest Thursday at 7 p.m. in Robbins.