Williamsburg, KY – The UC softball team return to the field Friday hosting Martin Methodist for a double header at the UC Softball Complex. Game one saw the Patriots take an early lead and make a late rally but fell 5-4, before dropping game two 4-0.  With the wins the Red Hawks improve to 5-3 on the season, while the Patriots move to 0-6.

The day began with the Patriots striking in the bottom of the first inning.  Elisa Mauldin led off with a walk and advanced to second on a Kailin Yantz sacrifice bunt.  Tare Comer drilled a two-out single to the gap in left center bring Mauldin around to score and give the Patriots a 1-0 lead.

The lead was short lived however as Raegan Hannah hit a solo homer in the top of the second to tie the game 1-1. 

The game remained tied until the top of the fifth when Taylor Mitchell led off with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt.  Mitchell came around to score on a Leisha Yamauchi fielder's choice, giving the Red Hawks their first lead of the game.  Martin Methodist pushed two more runners across the plate in the inning to give Martin Methodist a 3-1 lead. The Red Hawks extended their lead to 5-1 with a run in the top of the sixth.

The Patriots started to rally in the bottom of the sixth as Mauldin hit a lead-off single, Yantz followed with a double to left to score Mauldin and cut the deficit to 5-2.  Back-to-back hits by MiKayla Vires and Tara Comer gave the Patriots another run and two runners in scoring position.  Martin Methodist was able to get a double play, before Hannah Stephenson singled to left to score the pinch-running Morgan Santos and make it a 5-4 game.

Sydney Maynard pitched a perfect seventh to keep it a one-run deficit. In the bottom of the seventh Aryanna Cannoy hit a pitch-hit single to right to lead offer.  Amber Hiller came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a Madison Huber sacrifice.  Mauldin drew a walk, but that was the closest UC got as Martin Methodist doubled-up the Patriots to end the game.

Maynard threw her first complete game of the season, scattering eight hits, allowing five runs, only two of which were earned, and a strikeout.  At the plate, Mauldin went 1-2 with two walks and two run scored, while Comer finished 2-3 with an RBI.

Game two saw a pitching duel as Kaylee Davis of Martin Methodist pitched a complete-game one hitter.  Sydney Pennycuff went 6.0 innings for the Cumberlands with four strike outs and allowing two-earned runs. 

Pennycuff surrendered four hits in the first three innings but was able to pitch out of jams and keep the game scoreless and strand six Red Hawks runners. In the top of the fourth, Martin Methodist had back-to-back hits to lead off the inning.  A Ferguson single to left brought home the first run of the game.  A defensive miscue allowed two more runners to score and give Martin Methodist a 3-0 lead. 

Cumberlands tried to muster a comeback in the bottom of the fourth as Morgan Santos hit a one-out single to center.  Santos was able to advance to second, but UC's couldn't bring her around.  Martin Methodist added a run in the top of the sixth for the 4-0 final.

The Patriots will return to the field Sunday, February 25, when they host the University of Northwestern Ohio for a four game series at the UC Softball Complex.  Sunday's doubleheader is slated to begin at 4 p.m. with live video available here, while live stats are available here, while first pitch on Monday is set for 2 p.m.

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