Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Williamsburg, KY- Cumberlands boasted a pair of mid-week wins, taking two from St. Ambrose at Doyle-Buhl Stadium. Behind lights out pitching, the Patriots won 6-1 and 5-2 over the Fighting Bees.
 
Colton Easterwood pitched the complete game to begin the day; Thomas Gutierrez got the win in game two after a six-inning outing. Garrett Vathroder noted his second save of the season with a three-batter appearance late in the day. Combined, the pitching staff dropped 22 Fighting Bees on strikes.
 
At the plate, it was Jose Rojas who offered a steady bat, going 4-7 between the games. Three of hits went for two bases, scoring one between the games.
 
The wins keep the Patriots perfect on the season at 13-0. 
 
Game 1: Cumberlands Wins, 6-1
Pedro Nazario stayed red hot as UC in game one; his second inning grand slam gave Cumberlands a commanding 5-0 lead and helped the Patriots improve to 12-0 on the season. Nazario's fourth season homer followed his grand slam yesterday, the Patriots fourth grand slam of the season.
 
Colton Easterwood noted his second win of the season; pitching the complete game with his fourth time of his career hitting double-digit strikeouts. The right-handed pitcher gave up one run – unearned – on just two hits, dropping 10 on strikes.
 
Following a scoreless first inning, the Patriots exploded for five runs in the second. Brian Garcia reached on a walk and Rolondo Rodriguez was hit by a pitch. Candido Encarnacion then hit a seeing-eye single past second base to score B. Garcia and give the Pats a 1-0 lead.
 
The bases were loaded for UC on an error to allow Nazario to bring life to the party. The senior went deep drive over the right field fence to drive home four more runs. The bases-clearing homer gave Cumberlands the 5-0 lead.
 
Andres Rolon led off the fourth inning with a single thru the hole at second. Nazario struck again as he nailed the ball to deep right-center for a double. A. Rolon scored on the ball; Nazario claimed his 12th RBI in three games.
 
In his 10-strikeout day, Easterwood dropped all three in the sixth with the K. St. Ambrose did put one on the board from an infield error in the same inning.
 
No more runs would score in the contest; Cumberlands picked up the 6-1 win to start the day.
 
Game 2: Cumberlands Wins, 5-2
Behind a homerun and three RBI from B. Garcia, the Patriots capped off a day-one sweep over St. Ambrose. In the game, Rojas also notched a pair of hits, both doubles.
 
Gutierrez started his day on the hill with three strikeouts in the first, doing so again in the third. He delivered nine K's on the day for a new career best.
 
The Patriots got their offense cooking in the second inning; Rojas noted a lead-off double with a deep right field strike. B. Garcia, after not noting a hit in the first game, redeemed himself as he got ahold of a pitch and sent a missile over the scoreboard in right field. The homerun is Garcia's first of his Patriots career, giving his team the 2-0 lead.
 
Cumberlands kept up the pressure in the third. Bryan Leef notched his lone hit of the day to left field and scored a fellow Patriot. Runners on the corners, a wild pitch allowed Nazario to score and extend the Pats lead to 4-0.
 
One pitch later, B. Garcia drove a deep shot off the left-center wall to score Leef. The designated hitter noted his fifth season triple to put the Patriots up 5-0.
 
The Fighting Bees got on the scoresheet in the fifth as the Patriots error puts a pair in scoring position. With runners threatening, a single up the middle scored both runners and cut the Patriots lead to 5-2. Gutierrez got out of the inning by successfully picking off a St. Ambrose runner at first with the help of Frank Garcia and Nazario.
 
Vathroder checked into the game in the final frame and brought the fire with. The right-hander tossed three-straight batters out, dropping all three on strikes. It was recorded as his second season save as he fended off all three batters.
 
The Patriots picked up their 13th season win after defeating St. Ambrose 5-2.
 
Up Next
The Patriots will be back at it against St. Ambrose to continue the series on Thursday. The second doubleheader is set for 2 PM at Doyle-Buhl Stadium.
 
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