Williamsburg, KY – Cumberlands took down their first ranked opponent of the season, defeating #10 Georgia Gwinnett on a walk off by Emily Bryant in extra innings. The teams played a double header with the Patriots winning game one, 2-1 and the Grizzlies taking game two, 5-2. The Patriots now boast a 19-5 season record.

In the first contest, neither team posted a run through the regulation seven innings, then Georgia Gwinnett put up a run in the top of the eighth inning. The Pats had their fastest runners on the base paths from Hailey Wood being on second base for the international tie breaker and Emily Jasper getting aboard from a walk. The duo each swiped a base to end up on second and third. Katie Cheeseman sent a ball up the middle to score Wood and push Jasper to third base, tying the game, 1-1. Bryant stepped to the plate having not recorded a hit yet. She made her final at-bat count lacing a ball past the shortstop and third baseman for the 2-1 walk off winner.

Kaiti White got the start in the circle and pitched lights out for UC. Through her six innings of work, she gave up just four hits, no earned runs and two strikeouts. She also pitched a trio of three up, three down innings to give her offense a chance at the win. Talli Burgess finished the Grizzlies off despite entering the game with a runner on first base. In her two innings of work she struck out a batter and gave up a single run.

This marks the first time Cumberlands has defeated a top-ten opponent since Head Coach, Bailey Dillender took over the program in 2018. The win gave UC their 17^th straight victory, a program record and extended their home win streak to 21 wins, dating back to the 2019 season.

#10 GEORGIA GWINNETT DEFEATS CUMBERLANDS, 5-2
In stark contrast of the first game, game two featured the Patriots plating a run in their first at-bats. Cheeseman and Bryant had back-to-back singles to start things off. Then Maddie Sickau roped a ball down the left field line to score Cheeseman giving UC, the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

With Abby Whelan on the mound, UC saw the first four innings as scoreless from the Georgia Gwinnett offense. The Patriots doubled their lead in the bottom of the third inning. Wood got a free pass to first and then stole both second and third, giving her 12 stolen bases on the season. Once again, the bat of Bryant provided the power to get the RBI. She had a single to shallow left to score Wood and make it a 2-0 advantage for Cumberlands.

The Grizzlies would answer back, scoring five runs off two home runs. A three-run home run was sent out in the top of the fifth inning and they sent a two-run shot in the top of the seventh giving Georgia Gwinnett the 5-2 victory.

These games mark the final home game for UC in an 18-game homestead before the Patriots hit the road. The team went 17-1 and will face a Mid-South Conference opponent this weekend for the first time this season. Cumberlands will travel to Martin Methodist for a pair of doubleheaders on March 12-13. The first day will feature games at 4 and 6 pm. Both live stats and live video will be provided for the games. Live stats can be found here and live video can be found here.

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