Box Score Williamsburg, KY – Cumberlands baseball shut down Pikeville on Friday to open the conference series, claiming the 13-0 victory in seven innings. The Patriots extended their win streak to 11 straight over the Bears, picking up their 27th win of the season.
 
The bats lit up to propel the Patriots to success, but it was Colton Easterwood responsible for keeping the shutout alive. The senior went the distance, giving up only one hit in the game and three walks. It was an 11 strikeout day for Easterwood, his fourth double-digit count of the season.
 
It marked as the second game this season where a Patriots pitcher recorded both a complete game and a shutout. Cumberlands has tallied three games this year where an opposing run has not crossed the plate.
 
Easterwood rung up the Bears three straight to open the series. Five times through his complete game outing he saw one-two-three innings, helped defensively with a pair of double plays. The right-hander did not allow a hit to the opposing bats until the sixth inning, by then already dropping eight batters on strikes.
 
Cumberlands plated a single run in each of the first three innings; the offensive push largely due in part by Jose Rojas. The senior slugger recorded a pair of RBI doubles to open his 4-4 day at the plate. Brian Garcia sent the long ball straight back over the centerfield fence as the lead-off man in the second.
 
Cumberlands recorded three consecutive hits in the first inning, Bryan Leef getting the middle hit to left and advancing to scoring position on a stolen base. Rojas brought him home on the two-bagger to plate the first run of the contest. Ray Villanueva had the lead-off single in the third to get on base, scoring as well on Rojas' second double of the day.
 
The bats did not let up in the fourth and fifth. Andres Rolon walked before Rhett Gipe singled to left on a full count to put two runners on. A bunt single put Kevin Rolon aboard for the second time of the day, loading the bases as well. Villanueva stepped in to drive a double off the left-center wall and plate a pair of runs.
 
Rojas started the two-out rally in the fourth with a single up the middle, clearing the bases. Another double for the Pats, this time by Candido Encarnacion, moved the second baseman into scoring position. He plated the fifth run of the inning and the Patriots eighth of the game.
 
UC saw the lead-off batter on base for the fourth straight inning. Gipe tagged his second hit of the day down the left field line, K. Rolon completed his 3-3 day with a follow-up single to left as well. Torres recorded an RBI single up the middle, advancing into scoring position on an error. Leef also doubled off the fence to give Cumberlands the 11-run advantage.
 
Rojas rounded out his four-hit day with an infield chopper, putting runners on the corners. Both scored off the bat of Garcia, his second extra-base hit of the day was a double. The Bat Pats six doubles against the Bears in the game.
 
The conference series continues tomorrow, April 3, at Doyle Buhl Stadium with first pitch set for 12 PM. After the first doubleheader, the Patriots will honor their 20 graduates from 2020 and 2021; the presentation as well as the games can be streamed on the UC Sports Network.
 
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics, please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter - @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameDay, Instagram - @UCPatriots, YouTube – Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.