Pikeville, KY – After a tough 11-10 win on Friday evening, the UC Baseball team left no doubt that they are geared for another big run as they pummeled the Bears of the University of Pikeville 17-1 in game one today and 16-2 in game two, finishing off another Mid-South Conference series sweep. The pair of victories moves the Patriots to 39-4 overall and a perfect 10-0 in MSC play.
 
Game one would be handed to Josh Avila who went to work right out of the gate. He would earn the win, improving to 5-1 on the season, giving up just one unearned run on five hits and three walks while fanning seven in his six innings for the victory. Mason Kleist would throw a perfect seventh inning of work to end the game early via run rule.
 
The Patriots would pound the ball from the very beginning of the contest. In the first, UC would push three runs across the plate with two outs, including three RBI singles from Andrew Ramos, Bryan Benz, and Rolando Rodriguez to make it 3-0. Five more would score in the second including three on a three-run home run from Raudy Martinez, his tenth home run of the year, to make it 8-0 Pats.
 
After UPike scored their lone run in the second, UC would quickly get it back on a RBI single from Alex Dominguez to make it 9-1 after three. Three more RBI singles from Braden Miller, Roberto Prado, and Dominguez coupled with a sacrifice fly from Martinez would push the lead to 13-1 in the fourth.
 
The final four runs would come in the sixth on a RBI double from Britton Elmore, a RBI double from Andrew Patterson, a RBI single from Miller, and a final RBI single from Reed Spata to give the Patriots the 17-1 win in game one, securing the series win.
 
Game two starter Zach Hurley would come out and dominate as well. Going the distance, Hurley would allow two runs (one earned) on just six hits and a walk while striking out 10 over seven innings of work to improve to 7-0 on the season. 
 
Cumberlands would start the scoring early in the first. Five runs would score for UC in the opening inning including another three-run home run off the bat of Raudy Martinez, his 11^th home run on the season. Two more would score in the second off errant throws by the Bears to make it 7-0 after two.
 
The Patriots added four more in the top of the fourth, one on a RBI double by Dominguez to make it 8-0. Then, Andrew Ramos would join the home run party, sending a three-run shot out to left on a full count, his seventh of the year, to make it 11-0 UC. A two-run single by Dominguez along with a sacrifice fly by Daniel Diaz would make it a 14-0 Patriot lead entering the bottom of the fifth. The Bears would strike for two in the inning to cut the lead to 14-2.
 
UC would answer back though. Bryan Benz would not be denied this weekend as he hit a solo home run in the sixth, his 14^th home run of the year, to make it 15-2 UC. The final run came in the seventh as Marco Munoz would hit a sacrifice fly to bring home another, giving UC the 16-2 win. The Patriots outscored UPike 44-13 on the weekend and outhit the Bears 45-20 in the three game set.
 
Now, UC turns their attention to non-conference action on Tuesday, April 17^th as they host Milligan College for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 5 pm.
 
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