Williamsburg, KY – UC capped their fifth and sixth game in three days with two wins over Ohio Christian. Cumberlands has now recorded 10 straight wins, their most consecutive victories in fastpitch program history, which started in 1996.

Talli Burgess ensured that the Trailblazers stayed off the scoreboard, earning her first career complete game shutout. The freshman struck out nine batters, the most K's she has thrown in a single game. Kaci Goedde and Lindsey Shope combined for a six-inning win giving up just two runs and striking out two batters.

Tori Malone had her best two game stretch going 4/5 and notching three doubles to lead the team with 4 RBIs. Maddie Sickau had the second most RBIs on the day with three, two of us which came from her team high, fourth home run of the season. Meryn Livingston hit her second home run in two days to get two RBIs for UC. Katie Cheeseman had four hits across the two games and plated an RBI.

CUMBERLANDS SHUTS OUT OHIO CHRISTIAN, 5-0
Burgess shut down the Trailblazers defense through the first three innings, not allowing a single runner aboard going three up, three down through the trio of frames.

Cumberlands offense did not get going themselves until the bottom of the third inning from Malone's lead off double. Emily Jasper put the ball in play and forced the Trailblazers to make an errant throw and allow Malone to score giving UC a 2-0 lead.

In the next inning the Patriots had another lead off double this time off the bat of Madison Huber. The next batter was Malone who switched places with Huber to get her second double of the game. The RBI gave UC the 3-0 lead heading into the fifth inning.

Another superb inning in the circle for Burgess led to three quick outs in the fifth including a strikeout.

Cheeseman had a leadoff single in the sixth marking three innings in a row that the first batter got a hit to begin the frame. Livingston brought Cheeseman in from a shot over the left field wall in the first pitch of her at-bat upping the UC margin to five runs.

Neither team scored a run in the sixth inning and Burgess closed the door for the OCU offense to get a run earning her fifth frame of three straight outs. Burgess only conceded two hits marking her best start of her young career.

CUMBERLANDS RUN RULES OHIO CHRISTIAN, 10-2 (6 INNINGS)
This game, neither team scored through the first 3.5 innings of the game. Goedde was on the mound for her second start of the season. The Elizabethtown, KY native gave up only four hits through those frames.

To start the fourth, Cheeseman got the bats going again for Cumberlands hitting a single to left field and advancing to second base. Emily Bryant brought Cheeseman home with her team leading third triple of the season. Bryant crossed the plate thanks to a sacrifice fly from Sickau. With the bases empty and two outs, Huber jumpstarted the offense with a single to the right-center gap. Malone moved Huber up 60 feet from her third double of the day. Taylor Green the got two RBIs with a single to shallow center field, giving her three RBIs on the season. Green advanced to second on the throw home that was too late to get Huber out. Green would not stay on second for long after Hailey Wood sent a ball to deep left field bouncing to the wall picking up an RBI double to give UC the 5-0 advantage.

The following inning, Bryant was issued a walk and then three pitches later Sickau crushed a ball to left field over the fence for a two-run home run. With the Patriots up 7-0, Ohio Christian was able to score their first runs since game one of the series yesterday. A two-run home run in the top of the sixth cut the Cumberlands lead to five.

Looking to get their runs back in the bottom of the sixth, Malone had another leadoff hit, this time a single past the shortstop. Two walks and a fielder's choice got Patriots runners on every base with Cheeseman up to bat. She singled to left-center field scoring one run and then the next two runs would score from a wild throw on the relay. The score changed to 10-2 giving UC eight runs, good enough for the run rule.

The UC offense has been rolling this season scoring 80 runs, second best in the NAIA. Not to mention the 10-game win streak, but they have hit an NAIA best seven triples, second in doubles with 24 and first in total hits with 122. The pitching staff has also been impressive, recording 74 strikeouts, ranking second in the NAIA.

Starting the season 12-4 marks the program's best start since 2002 when they started 11-3.

The Patriots will return to the UC Softball Complex on March 5 to start conference play against the Cumberland Phoenix in a four-game series. First pitch for game one is slated for 4 PM. 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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