Lakeland, FL – Cumberlands opens their 2021 campaign by sweeping the Southeastern Fire 2-0 and 2-1 Thursday afternoon.  The wins are historic for Head Coach Bailey Dillender as it marks the first time under her reigm that UC swept the opening series and that first 2-0 start for the program since the 2002 season. Combined UC outscored their opponent 4-1, picking up a pair of runs in each contest.

Katie Cheeseman had the best day of her Patriots career knocking in two RBIs off three hits. She earned all of UC's RBI's in the first game and was able to seal the win in game two helping to advance the go-ahead runner in the 8^th inning.

The Patriot's pitching staff combined for ten strikeouts, 11 hits and just one run in 14 innings against a team that averages eight runs a game. They were able to limit base runners with their precision pitching, minimizing the walks to just four hitters.
 
GAME ONE: CUMBERLANDS DEFEATS SOUTHEASTERN 2-0
UC got the scoring started in the third inning off three hits. Corinne Haverland led off the inning singling up the middle. Hailey Wood got on from a fielder's choice and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Cheeseman stepped to the plate hitting the ball to left center. With the speed of Wood, she was able to race around third and cross home plate giving UC the 1-0 lead.

The Patriots would double their lead in the fifth inning once again from the bat of Cheeseman. Emily Jasper earned a walk once again putting speed on the base paths. Cheeseman took her pitch to deep right center field scoring Jasper easily and putting Cheeseman on second for the RBI double.

Kaiti White pitched five complete innings to open the season for Cumberlands. The Hillsboro, OH native struck out five batters including three when the Fire had runners in scoring position. White limited the opposing hitters to just four hits en route to her earning the win.

Talli Burgess came into relief matching what White was able to accomplish. The freshman's first batter she faced at the collegiate level, struck out swinging. She followed it up with a ground out and foul out to strand the possible tying run on second. Burgess shut the door in the seventh inning giving up zero hits.

The loss marks the first defeat for the Fire and their first shutout loss since March 11 of last year.
 
GAME TWO: CUMBERLANDS DEFEATS SOUTHEASTERN 2-1 (EXTRA INNINGS)
Neither offense was able to get going early on in the contest. Abby Whelan kept the Fire hitters off balance never giving up more than one hit through the first four innings. The lone run Whelan gave up in the contest came from a solo homerun in the fifth inning.

Kaci Goedde saw her first action on the mound entering in the sixth inning. In her 1.2 innings of work she gave up one hit and no runs.

Cumberlands once again used team offense to get on the scoreboard, sparking from a lead off hit. Bryant got the offense going with a single up the middle. Sarah West executed the sacrifice bunt moving Bryant into scoring position. Maddie Sickau took the 1-0 pitch sending a hard line drive down the left field line allowing Bryant to tie the game up at 1-1.

The game was forced to extra innings where UC wasted no time mustering a run. Jasper was put on second base in accordance with the tie breaker rules after seven innings. Cheeseman was the first batter up, hitting a ball that forced the shortstop towards second base unable to get Jasper racing towards third. Cheeseman was thrown out at first base, but Jasper used her speed and baserunning IQ to get the defense to throw towards third base as she broke for home. The sophomore scored giving UC the 2-1 lead.

Burgess once again came into relief for the Patriots. She did not concede a hit and earned her second save of the season.

In a game where the Patriots' defense shined, their play in the eighth inning solidified the win. Southeastern tried to advance their runner on second to third from a sacrifice bunt. Acacia Gray read the play perfectly catching the popup bunt and then firing the ball to second base where center fielder, Madison Huber beat the runner to the bag. The double play extinguished the Fire's chances at a win.

UC will look to build upon the two wins when they face #19 Warner University tomorrow, Friday, February 12 for a double header starting at 5 PM. The live stats for the games can be found here with the live video found here.

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