Williamsburg, KY – The Patriots hosted both (RV) Taylor University and Grace College on the first day of their annual Bear Creek Tournament. The Cumberlands' offense exploded to score 19 runs in just eight innings of work while only conceding a single run.

Katie Cheeseman had a perfect day at the plate going 5-5 with six RBIs and scoring three times herself. Also contributing to the RBI total was Tori Malone and Emily Bryant who each had three across the two games.

Kaiti White, Abby Whelan and Lindsey Shope all got the job done in the circle for UC. Combined they gave up one run on eight hits and striking out 11 while walking just one batter.
 
CMBERLANDS DEFEATS (RV) TAYLOR, 11-1 (5 INNINGS)
The Trojans got on the board to take the lead, scoring in the top of the first inning. White got a lead off strikeout but Taylor put together a string of hits to go up 1-0. That would be the only time UC would trail the rest of the day.

The Patriots answered back thanks to patience at the plate from walks that eventually scored the tying run in the bottom of the first. Cumberlands then took the lead in the second. Meryn Livingston and Hailey Wood were on base for Cheeseman from a fielder's choice and a walk. Cheeseman got her first two RBIs on the day from a ball hit right back up the middle, giving UC the 3-1 lead.

Cumberlands kept their trend of scoring going in the third inning with an RBI double from Malone that hit the top of the fence in centerfield. The Patriots were now up 4-1 but their biggest offensive inning came in the fourth.

An inning of four doubles was started with Emily Jasper who earned a leadoff double down the left field line and Cheeseman followed suit with a double of her own to score Jasper. Madison Huber brought home Cheeseman from a single and UC now had runners on first and second. Malone once again got herself a double this time picking up two RBIs. Wood joined noted the last double of the inning to score Malone. Still in the fourth inning Cheeseman stepped into the batter's box once again and delivered a single up the middle to score two runs extending the UC lead to 11-1. The Patriots sent 12 hitters to the plate in the inning to total six runs off seven hits to earn the run-rule victory after just 4.5 innings of play.

With the high-powered offense, White kept Taylor at bay giving up just the one run in five innings of work. Seven Trojan batters struck out against the sophomore pitcher, the most strikeouts she has issued this season and the second most of her career.
 
CUMBERLANDS DEFEATS GRACE, 9-0 (5 INNINGS)
This time around Cumberlands had their best offensive inning in the very first inning, plating seven runs off seven hits. Jasper and Cheeseman led the game off with back-to-back singles. Freshman, Emily Bryant sent a ball over the center field wall to notch her first career home run, driving in three runs. The Patriots were then able to take advantage of two errors and singles from Malone, Wood, Jasper and Cheeseman to score four more runs to go up 7-0. UC used their speed in the inning noting that two of the singles came off infield singles from Wood and Jasper.

UC earned two more runs in third inning off the bat of Corinne Haverland. The two runners were Cheeseman who had another single and Maddie Sickau from a hit by pitch. Haverland entered the game as a pinch hitter and wasted no time in settling into the game. The Cincinnati, OH native drove the ball to right center field and took off out of the batter's box and not slowing down until she hit third base. The bases clearing triple is the first of her career and she is the first one for UC to hit a triple this season.

The Patriots held onto their 9-0 lead to earn their second shutout of the year. Whelan started in the circle and picked up her first win of the season. The Flaherty, KY native only gave up three hits, her fewest of the season, and did not walk a single batter. Shope shut the door on the Lancers' offense striking out two batters without conceding a hit. The two innings marked her first appearance in a Patriots' uniform.

UC outscoring their opponents 19-1 is their best doubleheader score since they defeated Hiwassee College by the same margin over two games on March 13, 2019. The two wins at the UC Softball Complex marks back-to-back seasons the Patriots have swept their opening day doubleheaders.

Fans will not have to wait long for Cumberlands to return to the field as they host Rio Grande at 2 PM and Asbury at 6 PM tomorrow, February 21 at the UC Softball Complex for the final day of the Bear Creek Tournament. There will be live stats for the games which can be found here.
 
No visiting fans are permitted at the UC Softball Complex. Cumberlands students and faculty/staff are allowed with a valid UC ID. In addition, dressed Patriots may select up to two (2) immediate family members to be allowed access into the venue. These family members have to be submitted prior to game day, and will be required to be screened prior to entering the facility.

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