Williamsburg, KY – The UC softball team came from behind twice to win game 1 5-3, before falling in game two 7-4 to earn a split with Kentucky Christian in Mid-South Conference play Monday afternoon at the UC Softball Complex.  After the games, the Patriots move to 8-14 overall and 3-1 in conference play, while the Knights move to 6-15 and 1-3 in the MSC.

Sidney Pennycuff started off strong striking out the first batter of the game.  After putting two runners on Pennycuff got Cassie Askins looking, before Kentucky Christian hit an RBI single through the hole to give the Knights a 1-0 lead.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the second as MiKayla Vires drew a leadoff walk. Morgan Santos laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Vires to second, and Vires scored on a wild throw by the Knights to even the score at 1-1.  Back-to-back doubles from Lexi Jones and Hannah Stephenson gave Cumberlands a 2-1 lead.

Kentucky Christian answered with a pair of runs in the top of the third to retake the lead at 3-2.  In the bottom of the third the Patriots used a walk, bunt single, and an error to load the bases with no outs, however a base running blunder allowed the Knights to convert a triple play to get out of the inning.

The score remained 3-2 until the bottom of the fifth as Stephenson doubled to lead off the inning. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Elisa Mauldin who drilled a two-run single through the hole at short to give UC a 4-3 lead.  Morgan Santos added an RBI single, which scored Kailin Yantz to extend the lead to 5-3.

That was all the support Pennycuff needed as she recorded the final six outs for the 5-3 final.

Pennycuff went the distances scattering six hits and three runs, while striking out nine to improve to 5-6.  Stephenson went 2-2 with a pair of doubles and a walk. 

In game two, KCU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning.  The Patriots answered in the bottom of the inning as MiKayla Vires doubled to lead off the inning.  After a Santos walk, Jones and Olivia DeZarn hit back-to-back two-out RBI singles to give UC a 2-1 lead.

The Knights took advantage of a couple defensive miscues and notched four runs in the top of the third to take a 5-2 lead.  Vires singled in the bottom of the third and scored on Stephenson's third double of the afternoon to cut the deficit to 5-3. 

KCU added a run in both the fourth and sixth inning to give the Knights a 7-3 lead.  Cumberlands looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh as Madison Huber singled with one out. An error and walk loaded the bases for Stephenson, who smashed an RBI single to right making it 7-4.  That was the closest UC got as KCU got the Patriots to strike out to end the game.

Vires went 2-3 with two runs scored, while Stephenson finished 2-4 with two RBI and a double.

The Patriots will return to the field Thursday, March 29, when they host 11^th-ranked Lindsey Wilson for the start of a four-game series.  First pitched is scheduled for 4 p.m. and live video will be available here, while live stats are available here.

For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter - @UC_Patriots, Instagram - @UCPatriots, SnapChat - @UC_Patriots, YouTube – Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.