Columbia, KY – UC Baseball continued to amaze on Friday as the Patriots would take both games of a Mid-South Conference doubleheader over Lindsey Wilson College by scores of 12-2 (7 innings) in game one and 3-0 in game two. The pair of wins moves the Patriots to 24-3 on the year, 5-0 in MSC play, and increases the winning streak on the season to 20, the longest since 1983.
The reigns would be handed to
Josh Avila in game one and his great pitching performance was back by plenty of offensive output by the Pats. In the opening inning,
Orley Arellano would reach on a fielder's choice, putting one on with one down. After a walk and a strikeout to put two away with two on, Arellano would steal third and advance home on an E2, giving UC an early 1-0 lead. Cumberlands added to the lead in the top of the second on a solo shot by
Andrew Ramos, his fourth of the year, making it 2-0. Lindsey would get a run in both the second and third innings to tie the game at two, but that tie would not stand for long.
In the top of the fifth, Ramos would add to his day with a two-run double deep to left-center as the Patriots would retake the lead 4-2. Still in the fifth,
J.C. Santos would drive in a run on a single to center, extending the lead to 5-2. The sixth inning though was the back breaker for the Blue Raiders. With one down,
Raudy Martinez would take to the skies with a two-run shot deep to left field, his eighth home run on the season, to make it 7-2 Patriots. After loading the bases,
Bryan Benz would join the fun with a two-run single with the final runner coming in to score on an outfield error by Lindsey Wilson, pushing the lead to 10-2.
A sac fly by
Reed Spata as well as another single by Arellano would drive in two more runs, giving UC a 12-2 advantage heading to the bottom of the seventh, looking for a run-rule victory. There, Avila would make short work of the Blue Raiders with the help of a well-turned 5-4-3 double play as Cumberlands would earn the 10-run win. Avila would earn the complete game win going seven innings allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks while sitting six down on strikes.
Game two was a tighter ball game on paper, but a dominate outing by starter
Zach Hurley would be just what the Patriots ordered. UC would get the first run of the game in the opening inning after
Roberto Prado led off the game with a single. After making his way to second on a wild throw by the pitcher on a pick-off attempt, a pair of groundouts to the right side would bring home Prado, pushing the Patriots out front 1-0.
In the second after a leadoff double by
Daniel Diaz, the next two Pats would strike out, putting two away with a run in scoring position. Santos would then answer with a RBI single to center, adding to the lead at 2-0. Cumberlands' final run came in the fourth with two on in scoring position and no one down. A groundout to the right side would bring home Diaz, giving the Patriots a 3-0 cushion, which was plenty for Hurley on the game.
The most batters Hurley faced in an single inning was four until the seventh, where the Blue Raiders would eventually load the bases with two down. Hurley would buckle down though and force a 4-3 groundout to end the game, stranding the bags full and giving UC the 3-0 win. Hurley would earn the complete game win going seven innings allowing no runs on seven hits and two walks while fanning eight in the victory. It is the third complete game shutout of the season for Hurley, improving his record to 5-0 on the year.
UC and Lindsey Wilson will now look to finish out their three game series on Sunday, March 25
th barring any weather induced cancellations. Stay tuned to UC's social media outlets for the up-to-date information on the series.
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