Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Williamsburg, KY – In a low offensive showing, the Patriots dropped both games of the double header to Bethel in their conference season opener. The home team was outscored 9-1 between the games.
 
The pitching staff did their best to fend off the Wildcats through the day. Colton Easterwood, starting in game one, had a stellar showing with his second game of his career with 11 strikeouts. His last time doing so was in 2018 against Shawnee State. It marks his fourth straight appearance with nine or more K's.
 
Nathan Geissler went the distance in game two, noting his first loss of the season in five starts. Over the stretch, he earned a pair of runs while dropping seven batters on strikes.
 
Bethel took both games to open the Patriots conference season. The opposing arms shut out Cumberlands in game one, the team's first scoreless showing since a 1-0 game against IU-Southeast to open the 2019 season. The home team scored once in game two but could not fight back the deficit, falling 4-1.
 
In game one, the Patriots picked up only three hits, the biggest of the day coming hot off the bats of Ray Villanueva and Pedro Nazario. Villanueva noted the first hit of either team in the pitching duel, slugging a double to deep right-center in the bottom of the second.
 
Stellar pitching on both sides continued; both Cumberlands and Bethel held each other to one or two hits and several strikeouts through the first four innings.
 
Cumberlands got on base in three consecutive innings but left runners on without a run converted. Over Torres stepped in to get a lead-off single through the right side but was caught stealing to end the fourth. Brian Garcia, second batter of the fifth, singled up the middle before back-to-back flyouts. After reaching base on a walk, Kevin Rolon was also stranded on second base by the end of the sixth inning.
 
The Wildcats rallied a trio of runs in the following side, taking the 3-0 advantage. Cumberlands was held off the basepath until Nazario swung for a double in the bottom of the ninth, stranded on after the pitching change.
 
Patriots were dug into a rut out of the gates, allowing two runs to cross in the opening frame in favor of the Wildcats. Torres and Villanueva were the only Pats to follow game one hits with another tallied in the second.
 
Looking to respond aggressively in the first, Torres got on base after singling again to the right, this time finding outfield grass off the bat. Villanueva looked for a two-out rally in the fourth with an infield single. The Patriots came up empty in both innings, also stranding a runner 90 feet away in the third.
 
The Patriots suffered a setback in the third inning as a trio of errors – a missed grounder and a pair of wild throws – extended Bethel's lead by another pair of runs.
 
Villanueva reached base in the final inning, taking advantage of a wild throw on an infield grounder to collect three bases with his speed. Yariel Diaz notched his first collegiate hit, a double off the wall to plate the lone Patriot run and avoid the shutout. A hit-by-pitch and walk loaded the bases and brought the game-winning run to the plate. The Patriots were unable to pull through on the late, two-out rally.
 
With one game remaining, the Wildcats have clinched the series with two of the three games. The Patriots have not lost a conference series since 2017, dropping three games to Campbellsville and two games to Georgetown that season. The Patriots also fall in back-to-back games for the first time since the 2019 conference championship.
 
Cumberlands looks to avoid the series sweep on Friday for the finale of the three-game set. First pitch is set for noon at Doyle Buhl Stadium; it will be one nine-inning game weather permitting.
 
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