Williamsburg, KY – Patriots baseball moves to 17-1 on the season after splitting Sunday's double-header with Huntington University. Game one was a test of endurance, as the Patriots pulled out the victory via a walk-off home run by Bryan Leef in the 15^th inning. Game two was a battle to sustain momentum as the Foresters built and maintained a four-run lead until the final inning in which the Patriots put two runs across but ultimately fell 3-2.

Game One

Huntington put the first run across in the second inning of game one via an RBI single by Eli Knust that scored Max Moser. The Foresters shutout the Patriots for the first two innings, notching their second run of the ballgame in the top of the third in an inning sparked by a double from Daniel Lichty.

The bottom of the third saw some life from the Patriots offense, managing their first run of the game by way of an RBI single from Pedro Nazario that scored Kevin Rolon. UC tied the game at two in the bottom of the fourth, putting a run across on three hits. Alex Dominguez opened the inning, poking a single to left-center before Candido Encarnacion flared a double to right. Rolando Rodriguez earned an RBI on the following at bat, scorching a ground ball shallow down the left-field line, scoring Encarnacion.

The Patriots took their first lead of the ball game in the bottom of the sixth as Leef managed a single to left, stealing second before later scoring on an error to give UC a 3-2 lead. The Foresters answered in the top of the seventh frame, crushing two hits and putting a run across to knot the game at three. UC went scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings.

Both teams went three scoreless innings before Huntington put a run across in the 11^th inning that was answered in the bottom of the frame by the Patriots. The two teams played three more scoreless innings until the bottom of the 15^th which saw a Nazario single followed by Leef's two-run blast to secure the walk off win. The Patriots started Nathen Geissler, getting six and a third innings from the right-hander before calling on Garrett Vathroder for two innings of relief. Thomas Guiterez pitched in extras, going three and two thirds innings, giving up a run on three hits. It was Koby Silvy who would earn the win for the Patriots, closing out the contest hurling three scoreless innings, striking out five.

Game Two

The second game of Sunday's double-header spared the dramatics compared to the 15^th inning haul of game one. Huntington got out on top in the first, slugging two hits and sending a run across the plate to take a 1-0 lead they would hold until the fourth inning. The Patriots managed two hits in the bottom of the second, with Rhett Gipe and Kevin Rolon both tallying knocks, but were unable to put a run across.

The Foresters tallied a run a piece in both the fourth and fifth innings, holding onto their 3-0 lead headed into the final inning. In the bottom of the seventh, UC scored two runs on one hit but were unable to get the final run across, falling to Huntington 3-2.

Walter Hernandez got the call to start for UC, going three innings giving up one run on three hits and notching four strikeouts. Moise Carrasco pitched an inning and a third of relief, allowing two runs on two hits. Bryan Juarez closed out the game for the Patriots, tossing two and a third shutout innings, without giving up a hit.

Baseball is set to return to action on Friday, March 6 as they travel to Campbellsville to open conference play against the Tigers. First pitch from Hig Field is slated for 2 PM.

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