Columbia, KY – Madison Huber recorded the biggest hit of the day, but despite paired with Emily Jasper's stellar base running, the Patriots drop two more games to the eighth-ranked Blue Raiders of Lindsey Wilson. After opening conference action, Cumberlands now sits 0-4 in Mid-South Conference play and 10-12 overall.
 
GAME ONE: Loss, 6-2
Jasper was the offensive and defensive leader of the game for Cumberlands, tabbing several key plays through the opening game. Going two-for-three from the plate, the freshman tabbed two stolen bases in the game and rounded the bases twice to score the Patriots only runs. In the outfield, Jasper also recorded a putout and an assist on a double play in the fourth.
 
Sidney Pennycuff began game one for the Patriots in the circle, recording 3.0 innings of work. Over the starting stretch, the sophomore offered 45 strikes on her day's 72 pitches, striking out five of 21 batters. Paige Parker entered action in relief for the first time in her career.
 
The Patriots put the first figure on the board in game one to take an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. After Jasper reached first on a walk and later stole second, Acacia Gray put some heat on her first pitch to double down the right field line, bringing her teammate home.
 
The Blue Raiders responded with runs of their own, splitting five between the first and second innings. Pennycuff battled her batters from the circle, downing four in the stretch to strikeouts swinging.
 
Sarah Biggerstaff saw first base after slapping an infield single, using her speed to reach first safely. The baserunner was later called out due to leaving the base early on her stolen base attempt. Jasper reached base again after hitting into a fielder's choice and later tabbed another stolen base to her name to get into scoring position. A single off Maddie Sickau's bat brought the freshman home again to narrow the scoring deficit to 5-2.
 
On the opposite side of the inning, Pennycuff started strong by delivering a looking-strikeout to the lead-off batter but offered a homerun to the Blue Raiders two pitches later to extend the score to 6-2 in Lindsey Wilson's favor. The veteran pitcher gave up one more hit in the fourth before being relieved by Parker. The Patriots ended the fourth on double play as Jasper made the lineout and tossed the ball back to first for the out returning to base.
 
Jasper found her way to first base once again after catching the Lindsey Wilson infield by surprise. The quick rookie put down a bunt toward third and reached safely, further advancing on the fielder's errant throw. The Patriots batting line-up was unable to push Jasper home for a score.
 
Parker tabbed two strikeouts in her one-two-three sixth inning to hold the Blue Raiders from scoring. The Patriots also found themselves with back-to-back hitless innings to finish the game with a 6-2 loss.
 
GAME TWO: Loss, 5-4
Huber was a forced to be reckoned with defensively, as the infielder had her hand in eight putouts, tabbing the assists. The sophomore also marked the big hit of the game, slashing a one-run homer over the wall in the sixth inning.
 
Getting the call to start game two for the Patriots, Jessica Webb allowed only two hits in her Saturday no-decision. Through her five shutout innings, the transfer also kept the Blue Raiders hitless through the first three innings. Webb garnished her day with a sole strikeout before relieved by Parker and Krystin Wilson
 
The Patriots began production early on as they did in game one as Gray reached second as the lead-off batter due to a fielding error. A fielder's choice and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, while Biggerstaff used her speed to beat the final out, recording an infield RBI single for the second-inning 1-0 lead.
 
After a one-two-three inning from Webb, Sickau placed a two-base smash down the right field line to move into scoring position. The shortstop was batted around by Gray, who also doubled to deep right-center to give the Patriots a 2-0 advantage.
 
Huber had Webb's back as the sophomore assisted on three groundouts to her side of the field to end the third inning. In the fourth, Webb allowed a sole hit, but it was Gray who collected the inning-ending out as the rookie dove to the dirt to save a possible run had the ball touched the outfield grass.
 
Hannah Stephenson was the first UC batter to reach in the fifth, sending her hard hit back at the pitcher to make it a tough play for the defense. A sacrifice bunt by Jasper moved Stephenson into scoring position and Sickau got the call to lift her hit to right-center for an RBI single, giving the Patriots a three-run lead.
 
Behind in the count, Huber slammed a lead-off, solo shot over the wall on her fourth pitch for her first homerun of the season.
 
The Blue Raiders pulled off a late-game rally to topple the Patriots pitching personnel. Entering the game in relief, Parker recorded her second appearance of the game but quickly loads the bases. Five runs scored on the freshman gave Lindsey Wilson the 5-4 edge.
 
Jasper singled to shallow left in the top of the seventh to give the Patriots one last chance at the win. The freshman continued to move on a stolen base and passed ball, but she was stranded on after a strikeout ended the inning and the game.
 
UP NEXT
The UC softball team will return home to continue Mid-South Action next weekend. Hosting Cumberland for a weekend series, the Patriots are set to get a pair of doubleheaders underway at 4:00 PM on Friday and noon on Saturday.
 
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