Williamsburg, KY – The softball team packed their bags and are headed down to Florida for an eight-game swing against the Sun Conference. Recently receiving votes in the first NAIA Coaches' Poll themselves, the week will consist of games against two other schools getting national nods.
 
The Patriots opened 2020 receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll, the first time since the early 2000's. A 7-5 start to the campaign in the opening 12 games helped hold the position as the first regular season poll of the new year was released Wednesday by the national office.
 
Along the way, Madison Huber has been a huge offensive proponent to have in hand with her .436 batting average and slugging .744 with three home runs already on the season. The junior is a true offensive threat, recording at least one hit and getting on base in the last nine straight games.
 
Maddie Sickau has batted .390 through the opening games, leading the team with 12 RBI. Meanwhile, Wood stole four bases in the recent two-game home stand, still a perfect 8-8 this year. Defensively, the duo of Sickau and Wood have been vacuums on the left side of the infield, assisting in just under a third of the team's total putouts.
 
It is still early in the season but Kaitlin White and Jessica Webb continue to pick up the pace in the circle. White leads the team with a 1.86 ERA, 20 strikeouts and two walks to her name in over 26 innings of action. Webb picked up her third win, second complete game and first shutout of the season recently, allowing a .217 batting average against the Patriots.
 
Coming off a pair of shutout wins against West Virginia Tech, the Patriots look to keep their early season momentum high on the Florida trip. Over the course of a week, Cumberlands will see Sun Conference members #25 Warner, Southeastern, Webber (RV) and Ave Maria on the road.
 
Warner made a top-25 debut this week after receiving votes in the preseason. In the early season, the Royals split their series against then #15 Olivet Nazarene, and wins over #5 Georgia Gwinnett and #13 Campbellsville. The Patriots fell to Georgia Gwinnett in a 3-2 battle, while the Royals won their match-up 6-2.
 
Cumberlands has the potential to capitalize on a tired team, as they complete a three-day, six game stretch for Warner in Lake Wales, FL. The Patriots will look to contain the Royals at the plate on Thursday, as seven of nine probable starters hit .324 or better. As a team, the Patriots boast a .320 average at the plate, showing an ability to bat around 58 runs once making it on base.
 
Following the Thursday night set, the Patriots will take on Southeastern in a mid-day doubleheader. The Fire are an almost even 9-8 on the season. In like games with the Patriots, Southeastern won 6-3 over Reinhardt while dropping a 3-2 game to Lawrence Tech. The Patriot offense has the potential to boom against the Fire, whose pitching staff combines for a 2.78 ERA.
 
On March 9, the Webber Warriors hosts Cumberlands in a rematch of the Bear Creek game, which the Patriots won 5-4. The mentioned game is the only blemish to the start of the Warriors season, now 14-1. However, before the Monday games, Webber will have to face #11 Indiana Wesleyan, #10 Georgia Gwinnett, and #8 Mobile.
 
The Patriots took the first meeting between the two teams earlier this season 5-4, credit goes to a two-RBI double by Acacia Gray in the bottom of the seventh to knock off the Warriors. White did not earn any runs in her complete game appearance, tallying six strikeouts to hold the Warriors at bay. Having scouted Webber already, balanced scoring at the plate and correcting defensive mistakes will keep the Patriots on top this time around.
 
Cumberlands wraps up the Florida series with a two-game stand at Ave Maria on Tuesday, March 10. The Gyrenes are on a 10-game win streak, 12-3 overall. They have yet to play any competition with national attention, doing so Saturday against #16 Columbia within a five day, nine game stretch. Ave Maria will see Monday off before playing two more.
 
A long week for the Gyrenes may or may not work in the Patriots favor, similar to the case with Warner. The bats of Huber, Sickau and team will have to come alive against two pitchers combining for a 10-1 record and 65 strikeouts. The Patriots have outscored their opponents 64-52 this season, but Patriot pitchers will have to control Ave Maria's 110-41 scoring margin, as well as Kalie Romig, who leads the NAIA with 22 stolen bases.
 
The entire 2020 schedule, with links to live video and live stats for all games, can be viewed here.
 
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