Williamsburg, KY – In a game that had three lead changes, Martin Methodist came out on top, knocking the #24 Cumberlands Patriots out of the Mid-South Conference Tournament. The series was a best of three that saw both teams claim a win on day one, forcing the if necessary game today. The RedHawks advance to the MSC Final Site from their 8-7 game three victory.

Meryn Livingston tied her career high for RBIs, notching four in the game. She had her fifth home run of the season and a sacrifice fly. Katie Cheeseman and Emily Bryant recorded the other RBIs in the contest. Emily Jasper led the team in hits with three and scoring twice.

In the circle for Cumberlands, Talli Burgess, Lindsey Shope and Kaiti White issued 12 hits, just one free base and six earned runs while striking out a batter.

A leadoff walk in the first inning helped open up the scoring for the RedHawks. They used a sacrifice bunt and a single to push across the run to go up 1-0.

The Patriots answered back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. A single from Jasper who then stole second and advanced to third off a wild throw. The squeeze bunt was on for Bryant who had to put her bat just inches off the ground placing the ball in play to score Jasper, tying the game up at 1-1.

The second-fourth inning was quiet from both offenses. Burgess gave up just three hits during those frames and sent the RedHawks down in order in the second, where she recorded a strikeout.

With two runners on in the top of the fifth inning, Martin hit a three-run home run over the left field fence for the 4-1 lead.

Once again Jasper got aboard, this time with a bunt single. Martin Methodist then pitched Maddie Sickau and Bryant walks to load the bases. Livingston stepped into the box, blasting a home run off the first pitch she saw to left field for what appeared to be a grand slam and would give UC the 5-4 lead. However, an appeal from the RedHawks ruled that a runner did not touch home plate, making the hit a three-run home run, tying the game at 4-4.

Now with two outs on the board, the Patriots reset their offense with a walk to Tori Malone and one to Madison Huber as well. Paige Parker entered the game as a pinch runner for Malone and the very next batter, Cheeseman, made sure to bring her around to score. Cheeseman sent a ball into shallow right field to bring Parker home, giving the Patriots the 5-4 advantage.

It was then Martin Methodist who answered back, scoring four runs off five hits and an error to go ahead 8-5.

But the Patriots showed their resiliency, putting up runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Wood led off the inning with a triple, smacking the ball to deep center field, over the outfielder's head. Jasper followed that up with an infield single, putting runners on the corners. Jasper looked to swipe second, but was called out, however, heads up base running from Wood allowed her to steal home, noting her 41^st stolen base on the year. The RedHawks pitched around Sickau for the third time in the contest, putting her on first from the walk. Bryant smoked a ball to left center field that the left fielder dropped, advancing Sickau to third. Livingston launched a ball to right field for the sacrifice fly that put UC behind by just one run, 8-7.

White dealt a strikeout in the seventh inning which was a part of a three up, three down frame. Wood got on base from a walk, signifying the tying run on the bases, but the Patriots could not advance her, ending the game.

The loss puts Cumberlands at a 41-16 record on the year, marking their best in program history. The team rewrote plenty of the history books, including most doubles (92) and longest win streak (17) as well as numerous records for individual players in the top-five all time.

The loss ends UC's bid at an MSC Tournament Championship and forces them to await their fate to see if they make the NAIA Tournament. The selection show will be held on May 11 at 5 PM ET on the NAIA's Facebook page.

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