Williamsburg, KY – Patriots baseball opened its conference season with a pair of wins on Saturday, sweeping the double-header against Campbellsville. Game one saw an incredible eight inning shutout from senior pitcher Colton Easterwood that led to a 9-0 Patriot win. Game two was a defensive battle in which UC claimed 3-0.

Saturday's wins improve the Patriots to 19-1 on the season, opening conference play at 2-0. Campbellsville starts the MSC season at 0-2 while dropping to 12-8 overall.

Game One

Ray Villanueva got the offense going for the Patriots, leading off with a single in a first inning that also saw hits from Pedro Nazario and Bryan Leef. Patriots starter Easterwood did not allow a hit through the first three innings, striking out six.

The Patriots put their first runs across in the top of the third in an inning that was led off by Nazario's second hit of the day, later advanced by a single to right by Leef. Nazario scored on a wild pitch before Candidio Encarnacion cracked a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Leef for the second run of the inning as the Patriots went up 2-0.

Villanueva crushed a solo shot to lead off the fifth inning for UC, his first of the season. The Patriots put another pair of runs across the plate in the inning, capitalizing on an error and a sacrifice groundout from Rolando Rodriguez.

The Patriots hung two more runs in the second frame, led off by Austin Madry who sent a flare to center for a single before advancing to third on a throwing error. Villanueva stepped up to the plate and belted an RBI single down the right-field line, scoring Madry. Bryan Leef then blasted a two-out triple, scoring Villanueva, making it a 7-0 Patriots lead.

Rodriguez reached on a fielder's choice to lead off the top of the seventh before being pinch ran for by Noah Davis. Andres Rolon singled to right field then a groundout from Madry sent Davis across the plate for run number eight. Andres Rolon would then score on Villanueva's fourth hit of the day, giving the Patriots a 9-0 lead they would hold onto to win game one.

Easterwood hurled his best outing of the season, giving the Patriots eight shut-out innings while giving up just one hit and notching a season high 10 strikeouts. The performance earns Easterwood the win, improving him to 4-0 on the season. Hector Abreu pitched an inning of relief to close out the game for the Patriots, not allowing a hit and managing a strikeout.

Game Two
 
The Patriots wasted no time settling back into offensive rhythm, opening game two with a two-run, two-hit inning. Villanueva reached base on a leadoff walked before being advanced to third by Nazario who cranked a double to straightaway center. With one out, Encarnacion sent a single to center, scoring Nazario and Villanueva to put the Patriots up 2-0.

In the third inning, Leef led off with a single before both Alex Dominguez and Andres Rolon reached on walks to fill the bases. Leef later scored after Rhett Gipe was hit by pitch, giving the Patriots the 3-0 lead, they would hold for the rest of the contest.

Nathan Geissler earned the win in a shut-out five-inning effort that saw him strike out six. Bryan Juarez came in relief for a pair of outs before Garrett Vathroder finished the game, pitching one hitless inning and earning the save.

The Patriots will return to action tomorrow, Sunday, March 8 to complete the series with Campbellsville. Game one of the double-header from HIG Field is scheduled for a 1 PM start.