Grayson, KY – The Patriots made a statement at the plate in day two of the Kentucky Christian series, out-hitting the Knights 18-8. The softball squad took the doubleheader 3-2 and 7-2 as the Patriots proved effective on the base path as well, cruising 19 total bases and stealing five.
 
Now 7-5 in conference play, the Patriots sit third in the MSC standings. Lindsey Wilson continues to lead with their undefeated conference record. The pair of wins advance the team to a 19-13 overall record on the year.
 
GAME ONE: WIN, 3-2
Meryn Livingston led the Patriots lineup in the first game, putting up two of her three day's hits. Madison Huber went 1-2 in game one, also contributing one of the team's three stolen bases. Emily Jasper and Morgan Ellis rounded out the base-robbing crew.
 
Back-to-back-to-back hits in the second began momentum to allow the Patriots to score early. Livingston tabbed the lead-off hit up the middle, followed by another through the gap by Huber to put two on. Malone placed her base-hit down the right field line to push Livingston across the plate for the first score of the day.
 
Maddie Sickau got the first hit an inning later, and after a bunt another Livingston-single up the middle, the Patriots lingered with runners on the corners. Huber walked to load the bases and the second run scored as Tori Malone bodied a pitch for a free base and 2-0 advantage.
 
In her 13th pitching appearance of the season, Jessica Webb tied her season-high strikeout count with six in the game. The held the Knights scoreless until the fourth, allowing two to cross the plate to tie up the game, 2-2.
 
For the third time of the day, the lead-off batter singled their way on base as Corinne Haverland pinch-hit to left centerfield. Olivia DeZarn entered the game as a courtesy runner and found her way to second on a wild pitch. Hayley Kilburn singled through the left side as a pinch-hitter as DeZarn charged her way toward home, getting the game-winning run on obstruction by the catcher.
 
Webb and company restricted KCU's production from the plate, including not allowing a hit until the bottom of the sixth. Webb finished with three hits to her name in the 3-2 win, five allowed through the series.
 
GAME TWO: WIN, 7-2
In game two, Acacia Gray found power at the plate, going 2-3 with an RBI to her name. Huber rounded out her .500 day with two more hits from four at bats, tabbing her sixth multi-hit game of the season.
 
Jasper collected the first run of the latter game in the first inning, initially finding herself on third base after a single, KCU error and wild pitch. Sickau got the call to sacrifice her hit to bat in her teammate.
 
The Patriots loaded the bases in the second inning to continue their edge over the Knights. Back-to-back hits by Hannah Stephenson and Jasper drove in an additional two runs in Cumberlands' favor.
 
KCU responded with two runs of their own against pitcher Paige Parker and threatened more with bases loaded. Sidney Pennycuff entered the game in relief after the rookie tallied a season-high six strikeouts. Pennycuff dropped the final batter on strikes for the needed out to end the frame. The sophomore went on to collect three more strikeouts to combine with her fellow pitcher for 10 combined in the game.
 
Leading 3-2 into the fourth inning, the Patriots take advantage of five KCU errors to score four runs. Kilburn slashed the Patriots' biggest hit of the day in her sixth start of the season, standing at second base after hitting deep down the left field line.
 
The junior scored on Sarah Biggerstaff's batted ball, who advanced four bases on three errors for her run scored. Four-straight hits by Sickau, Gray, Livingston and Huber batted in two more runs.
 
Pennycuff held the nights scoreless in her 4.1 innings of action from the circle, walking off with the 7-2 win.
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots return to Williamsburg for a midweek doubleheader against the Pikeville Bears. First pitch will get the game underway at 3:00 PM.
 
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