Box Score Williamsburg, KY – The Bat Pats got back to work against Martin Methodist to cap the series, lighting up the scoreboard in the second inning with 10 runs. A fifth-inning burst as well helped the Patriots to the 18-1 victory over the Redhawks in seven innings.
 
Cumberlands pushed across 18 runs in 16 hits, also taking advantage of a pair of errors by Martin Methodist's defense. Bryan Leef and Ray Villanueva were the heavy hitters in the affair, each notching a trio of hits and combined for all five of the Patriots homers and 12 RBI.
 
In three at bats for Leef, the center fielder sent the ball over the outfield fence each time for a trio of home runs added to his season count. He now sits at 14 on the season, 43 in his career. He is the first Patriots to register three homers in the same game since Bryan Benz did in 2019 against Milligan. Leef looks to catch up to his former teammate Benz with five more long balls to match the career program record.
 
Cumberlands moves to 4-2 in MSC action with the third win against Martin Methodist, their first sweep of a conference series since 2019. The Patriots took both games yesterday against the Redhawks, 11-9 and 4-1.
 
Patriots came up empty in the first inning but responded with a 10-run boom in the second. Leef got the team going as the second batter due up, seeing the third pitch in over the center field fence. Following the solo shot, Candido Encarnacion and Rolando Rodriguez single their way on to load the bases.
 
An error allows the Patriots to move around 90 feet, and another one base move for each runner is allowed from Pedro Nazario's first hit of the day. Over Torres noted an RBI with a free pass to first on balls. Then steps up Villanueva, the first pitch swung on and routed the team's sixth grand slam of the season to left field.
 
With the bases cleared, Jose Rojas got aboard with a single. Leef slugged his second homer of the inning on a full count to left field to plate the ninth and 10th Patriots runs.
 
In the third, back-to-back doubles put another pair of runs on the board. Nazario swung the first hit of the inning to bring around Rodriguez, followed by Torres.
 
Thomas Gutierrez allowed only one run to score in the game, getting his sixth start on the hill. In the bottom of the fourth, the lone run came as a fifth-pitch homer to get the home team on the board.
 
With the game still in hand, the bats kept the offense rolling with another burst in the fifth inning to add five more runs to the score line. Runners on the corners, Villanueva grips the bat and blasts a long ball to center again on the first pitch in, moving the score to 15-1. Rojas doubled for his biggest hit of the day, again setting up on base as Leef steps into the batter's box. For the third time of the day in as many at bats, the center fielder goes yard on the first pitch seen in.
 
The final run of the game was pushed across in the sixth. Rhett Gipe, pinch hitting, had a lead-off walk and later came around to score. The visiting bullpen got some work, though not on the hill but rather on the hill. Four walks were issued in the inning to move the Pats around, including Rollin Layton. Kevin Perez tabbed the RBI walk to plate Gipe before pitcher Corey Linz made contact but grounded into a double play.
 
Gutierrez went the distance with seven strikeouts to earn his sixth win of the season, leading the Patriots pitching rotation. He allowed six hits to the opposition, with the defense effectively ending many rallies by Martin Methodist to strand seven on.
 
Up next, the Patriots will host Alice Lloyd on Tuesday for a non-conference, midweek matchup. The first pitch at Doyle Buhl Stadium is to be determined. The next MSC series will be Friday and Saturday on the road at Georgetown, a team getting a #21 nod from Perfect Game despite no votes in the recent NAIA Coaches' Poll.
 
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