The Union Pines varsity baseball team got off to a rough start to its six-week 2012 Central Carolina Scholastic Summer League schedule Wednesday at Finley Read Field in Lumberton.

In the first game of a doubleheader the visiting Vikings fell 6-5 in a time-shortened six-inning tilt against the Lumberton High Pirates junior varsity squad. The Vikes then dropped a 10-0 decision to the Lumberton varsity team, losing in five innings via the 10-run mercy rule.

The Vikings fell behind 3-0 early in the first game as Clay Thomas started on the mound. In the top of the second Josh McKay and Tyler Davis scored on a two-run double by Thomas that cut the deficit to 3-2. Then Union Pines tied the game at 3-all in the third inning when Tyler Barber sent a double to the gap in right-center field to plate Dalton Garner.

The home team plated a pair in its half of the third to grab a 5-3 advantage, but the Vikes scored one run each in the fourth and fifth innings on sacrifice RBIs by Wyatt Chisholm and Barber as the game was again knotted at 5-5.

However, the Pirates used two hits, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI grounder in the bottom of the sixth to claim a 6-5 victory.

Thomas went three innings in the start before Kyle Robinson came in to toss the last three frames, retiring the side with ease in the fourth and fifth innings before the home team launched its rally in its final at-bat.

The nightcap saw Union Pines struggle at the plate and on the mound.

On offense the Vikes were hitless through four innings before Barber broke up the no-hitter with one away in the fifth on a rip for a single down the third base line. He would be the only base runner for Union Pines.

Conversely, the varsity Pirates plated five runs in the bottom of the first on two hits, three Viking errors and four wild pitches. A wild pitch and a passed ball from the Union Pines starting battery of pitcher Tyler Davis and catcher McKay helped contribute to Lumberton scoring a pair of runs on one hit in the bottom of the third to take a 7-0 lead.

Mason Collins spelled Davis from the bullpen, starting in the top of the fourth frame, where he promptly allowed one run on a walk and two wild pitches as Lumberton led 8-0 through four.

The tilt came to an end in the bottom of the next inning when Hunter Davis drove in runs nine and 10 with a game-winning double down the line in left. Raleigh Forrest pitched the first three innings for Lumberton, tallying seven strikeouts and allowing no walks to get the win.

Union Pines was scheduled to close the first week of CCSSL play Thursday in Raeford against Hoke.

Next week Union Pines is at home for all three of its tilts, hosting Hoke Monday and North Moore on Tuesday and Thursday at Viking Field in Cameron.

All varsity games are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. following the junior varsity contests, which begin at 4 p.m.