Williamsburg, KY – The UC softball team picked up victories nine and ten from a doubleheader sweep win over Ohio Christian. The Patriots are now on an eight-game win streak, their longest winning streak since 2005.

Meryn Livingston recorded four of the team's 11 RBIs across both games. She had three hits including a two-run home run. Madison Huber made every one of her three hits count, turning all three of her hits into extra bases. The Harrison, OH native recorded a pair of triples and a double. Maddie Sickau picked a pair of RBIs off her three hits, all of which were singles.

All three UC pitchers had no earned runs in their combined 14 innings. Kaiti White went the distance in game one striking out four hitters with no walks. Abby Whelan also recorded four strikeouts in her game two start followed by Lindsey Shope's three strikeouts to close out the final two innings.
 
GAME ONE: CUMBERLANDS DEFEATS OHIO CHRISTIAN, 7-1
The Trailblazers got out to an early 1-0 lead after three errors from the Patriots' defense in the first inning. UC would get the run back in the bottom of the second inning, ignited from a triple off the bat of Huber. She hit a ball just down the left field line to slide into third base. During the next at-bat a passed ball occurred bringing Huber home to tie the game, 1-1.

Before Cumberlands would take the lead in the game, White limited the Trailblazer's offense to just three hits and no runs. In the fifth inning, Livingston sent a ball to deep center almost clearing the fence to bring in Emily Bryant who got on from a walk, her second of the game, putting UC up 2-1.

The following inning, the Patriots would score five runs from four hits. Tori Malone led off the inning with a double to deep left field that Corinne Haverland followed up with a walk. Now with runners on first and second, Hailey Wood sent a no doubt home run to center field on the first pitch she saw racking up three RBIs. After Emily Jasper swiped two bases to end up on third base, Sickau brought her home from her second hit of the day. Livingston once again hit a ball that almost went over the fence to score Sickau and earn Livingston a standup double, bringing the score to 7-1.

White went out for the top of the seventh inning and once again pitched lights out striking out a batter in a three up, three down inning.

GAME TWO: CUMBERLANDS SHUTS OUT OHIO CHRISTIAN, 4-0
For the first time in four games, the Patriots did not give up a run in the first inning, and would get out to a lead first. Sickau got things going in the second inning with a leadoff single and was moved to second from Livingston's sacrifice bunt. Getting her first career start and first at-bat of the season, Taylor Green sent a ball to left field picking up a single and getting her first career RBI.

Whelan kept the UC 1-0 lead with great pitching keeping the Ohio Christian hitter off balance. Her best inning was in the top of the third when she only had to throw four pitches to get three outs, one of which was a line drive back to her, but the Flaherty, KY native fielded her position well to get out of the inning.

Cumberlands added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning from Jasper's leadoff double. Jasper was able to score easily after moving to third when Sickau hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Livingston drove the first pitch she saw to center field for a two-run home run, scoring Bryant who got on from an error. This marks her first home run of the season, UC's seventh of the year giving the Patriots a 4-0 lead.

Whelan issued a walk to start the sixth inning bringing in Shope for her second appearance of the year. The Williamsburg, KY native got the next three batters out, one of which from a strikeout. In the final inning of the game the Trailblazers got two hits, but Shope sent down two hitters with strikeouts and got the final out from a groundout to secure the combined shutout victory.

The 4-0 win marks the third time this season Cumberlands has kept an opponent from scoring. They improve their record to 10-4 on the season tying their best start since 2016 when they had the same record.

The Patriots and the Trailblazers will return to the diamond tomorrow, February 25 for another doubleheader. Both live stats and live video will provided. Live stats can be found here and the live video will be on the UC Sports Network here.

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