Williamsburg, KY – Patriots goalie Olivia McCarrell and pitcher Coltan Easterwood have been selected as the March Pepsi Athletes of the Month, announced by the athletic department Monday. The University of the Cumberlands Athletic Department in conjunction with their corporate partner Pepsi are presenting the "Pepsi Athletes of the Month", which will be award to one male and one female student-athlete each month.

McCarrell was named the female athlete of the month honors after recording 79 saves and posting a .658 save percentage over UC's eight games.  The freshman opened the month by making a pair of saves as the Patriots notched their second straight shutout against Thomas More.  McCarrell followed that up with back-to-back 15 save performances against #10 Georgetown and #7 Life to help Cumberlands improve to 10-0 on the season.  Those 15 saves were a career high for the Seymour, TN native and aided her in being named the NAIA Defensive Player of the Week.  McCarrell made 15 stops over the next three games, which helped Cumberlands advance to the semifinals of the Mid-South Conference Tournament.  In the semifinals, McCarrell notched a career-high 18 saves as the Patriots posted a 16-9 win over Life.  She closed out the month with 14 saves in MSC Championship game, making it the fifth time this season with double-digit saves in a game.  McCarrell also recorded 21 ground balls, seven caused turnovers, a posted 5.76 goals against average on the month.

Easterwood earned the male athlete of the month honors after posted a 0.67 era with a 3-0 record during April.  The ace of the Patriots staff opened the month by hurling a complete game one-hitter against UPike in a 13-0 win.  Easterwood fanned a season-high 11 batters in the game, marking the third time he recorded 11 strikeouts this season.  The senior struck-out nine over six innings of work earning a no decision as he surrender an unearned run against Campbellsville.  The Troy, TN native closed out the month with back-to-back complete game wins over Thomas More and Shawnee State.  Against the Saints, Easterwood recorded eight K's with scattering five hits and no runs. He closed out the month with a 10 strikeout performance over the Bears.  On the season, Easterwood has recorded 105 strikeouts and has 279 for his career.

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