Georgetown, KY – On the road this weekend for Mid-South Conference action, the UC Baseball Patriots had a tough task in front of them with a three-game set with the NAIA #22 ranked Tigers of Georgetown College. Getting the series started with a single game on Friday, the Patriots jumped out front early and would have to use a combination of relievers late to secure the win over the Tigers by a score of 8-7. The win pushes UC's overall record of 24-3 and 4-0 in MSC play.  

In the top of the first, UC would take advantage of some wild pitching from Georgetown starter Alvin Vega. After a leadoff single to Robbie Stroub and walk to Orley Arellano, a wild pitch would advance both runners 90 feet with no one down. Back-to-back groundouts to the right side would bring home runs for the Patriots, making it 2-0 UC. A pair of walks to both Bryan Benz and J.C. Santos would put two on with two down as Pedro Nazario would step up to the plate. A single through the left side would bring Benz home, pushing UC's lead out to 3-0 after their half of the inning.

Georgetown would also put a pair of runners on in the first and have them advance on a groundout to the right side, putting both on in scoring position with one down. A sacrifice fly to right by Tyler Wagner would bring a run across the plate for the Tigers, but an appeal to third would be upheld as the runner left early, erasing the run off the scoreboard for GC and keeping the score 3-0 Patriots.

Two quick outs for the Patriots in the second made it look as UC's scoring chances were gone in a blink, but a hit by pitch to Arellano would bring Raudy Martinez to the plate. On a 1-0 pitch, Martinez would mash a fastball deep over the left field wall for his eighth home run of the year, this one of the two-run variety to push UC's lead out to 5-0.

The Tigers would answer in the second with their leadoff man Val Stammler as he would hit a solo shot down the left field line and over for his first home run of the year, making it 5-1 Cumberlands through two. In the third, Cumberlands would continue to manufacture offensively. With a pair on in scoring position and two down, Kevin Rolon would single through the hole on the left side, bringing Santos in to score to make it 6-1 Patriots.

Georgetown would add a run in the bottom of the third on a RBI double from Wagner, cutting UC's lead back to 6-2. The Tigers continued to cut into the lead in the fourth with two down and two on in scoring position. A groundball to short looked to end the inning unblemished, but a wild throw would pull Santos off the bag and a pair would score, dicing the lead in half now to 6-4 Patriots through four.

UC would get those two runs back in the top of the sixth on an RBI single from Martinez and a sacrifice fly from Jose Rojas, pushing the lead back out to 8-4. Georgetown would respond in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of runs scoring, one on a bases loaded walk and another on a sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Zack Stack to make it 8-6 Patriots after seven complete.

Hampton Clark would enter the game for UC in the eighth and retire the side quietly. Cumberlands put two on in the ninth, but could not bring any insurance runs home as the score stood at 8-6 entering the bottom of the ninth. Stammler would lead off the inning for the Tigers sending a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence, his second home run of the day, to cut the lead down to 8-7. After retiring two Tigers, the tying run would get on via a single with pinch hitter Jeremiah Johnson coming to the plate. On a 0-1 pitch, Johnson sent a ball for a ride to deep left, but Benz would track it down, making a leaping catch just before the warning track to snag the out and the win for UC.

Hurley would get the win to improve to 5-1 on the year as he went six innings allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking out seven. Hampton Clark came in for a six out save, allowing one earned run on a pair of hits while fanning three. Moise Carrasco allowed a pair of runs in the seventh on a hit and two walks while sitting two down on strikes.

Cumberlands will finish out the MSC series against the Tigers on Saturday, March 23^rd with a doubleheader in Georgetown. First game of the double dip begins at 1 pm.

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