Williamsburg, KY – UC Baseball used the power of the long ball on Saturday as they would sweep the second doubleheader over the Foresters of Huntington University, winning game one in eight innings by a score of 8-5 and game two by a 6-4 margin. The sweep today pushed the Patriots to the series win against Huntington and moves UC to 15-2 overall on the year.
 
Nathan Geissler would take the hill for game one today, but would not have his best stuff in today's contest. After a scoreless first inning, the Foresters would get things going offensively with a pair of hits including a RBI single from Donovan Clark to give HU a 1-0 lead. UC would answer though in the bottom half of the inning as J.C. Santos would hit a solo home run deep to center field, his third of the season, to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Huntington would respond in the third with a solo home run of their own, this one off the bat of Adam Roser, to make it 2-1 Foresters. Moving to the fourth, HU would extend their lead on a RBI single from Clark and another run coming home on an error by the Patriots, giving Huntington a 4-1 advantage. In the bottom of the fifth, UC would cut into the lead slightly as Kevin Rolon would go deep to left for his third home run of the year, this one a solo shot to make it a 4-2 game.
 
In the top of the sixth, Daniel Lichty would drive in an insurance run for the Foresters on a RBI double, pushing their lead back out to three at 5-2. In the bottom half of the inning, Robbie Stroub would join the long ball party with a solo shot of his own, his second of the season, to cut the lead back down to just two at 5-3. UC had one more chance in the bottom of the seventh and their chance would come in a big way. With two down, Orley Arellano would draw a walk to bring Raudy Martinez to the plate. With a 2-2 count, Martinez would send the pitch deep to left over the fence for his second home run of the year to tie the game at 5-5 to go to extra innings.
 
Nick Purpera would come in to pitch as the third reliever for the Patriots in the top of the eighth. After allowing two walks, he would work his way out of a jam, giving UC an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the frame. After a pair of singles from Bryan Benz and Stroub, Bryan Leef would attempt to lay down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. After two failed attempts to get the bunt down, Leef would power up and send the 0-2 pitch deep to center for this third home run of the season, giving UC the 8-5 win in extras.
 
Purpera would get the win for his one inning of work allowing the two walks but no runs. Starter Geissler went 2.2 innings allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks in the no-decision.
 
The final game of the series would be handed to Tyler Morris as he would have a solid outing once again. After a scoreless top of the first, UC would go to work early and find a plethora of runs. After a walk from Arellano and Martinez reaching on an error to put two on, Santos would go yard again, this time to left center field for his fourth of the season, giving UC a 3-0 lead. Back-to-back singles from Rolando Rodriguez and Stroub would put runners on the corners as a wild pitch would allow Rodriguez to score, making it 4-0 Patriots. After a walk to Rolon, Marquis Orozco would double down the left field line, driving in two more to give UC a 6-0 lead after one.
 
Huntington would score three in the top of the second, but that is all they could muster against Morris. Tyler would go four innings allowing those three runs on four hits and four walks while striking out five. Wyatt Wade and Hampton Clark would combine for 2.1 innings as Clark would allow a run to come across. Arellano would come in with the bases loaded and record the final two outs to earn the save and give UC the 6-4 win and the series.
 
The Patriots return to action on Tuesday, March 5^th as they travel to take on the Buffaloes of Milligan College. First pitch is set for 4 pm.
 
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.