Columbus, GA – For the first time this season, UC had both of their opponents mentioned in the NAIA Preseason Poll. On day one of the NFCA Leadoff, the Patriots took game one over (RV) Truett McConnell with a 2-1 win and then fell to #16 William Carey in extra innings 1-0.

The Patriots' pitching staff was outstanding on the day in their 14.2 innings of work. They gave up just one earned run, off seven hits, walking just one batter and striking out 15 hitters. Kaiti White and Talli Burgess combined in game one for the win over Truett McConnell with six strikeouts and one walk. In the second game, Morgan Radford not only recorded the most strikeouts in a single game for the Pats this season, but also marks the second most she has thrown in her collegiate career. She racked up nine K's over 7.2 innings, limiting the Crusaders to just a trio of hits, no walks and no earned runs.

For the offense, Maddie Sickau was the only hitter to get a pair of hits on the day. Katie Cheeseman had a double and RBI along with Paxton Hoop picking up an RBI as well.

GAME ONE: #22 PATRIOTS DOWN (RV) BEARS, 2-1
Cumberlands got on the board early, scoring in the first inning for the sixth time this season. Emily Jasper got a leadoff walk and then stole second. The bases were then loaded from another walk and a fielder's choice. Hoop made contact and the offensive pressure turned into an error from the Bear's pitcher, allowing Jasper to score for a 1-0 UC lead.

White was lights out in the circle for Cumberlands from the jump. She did not give up her first hit until the fourth inning. That hitter in the fourth was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. The next hitter roped a ball looking for the five, six hole, but Sickau made a diving catch to keep the runner off the board.

After giving up just her third hit in the game, White turned the ball over to Burgess. The first batter she faced, hit a RBI double tying up the game at 1-1. Burgess got a strikeout and flyout to leave the runner on second. Burgess picked up another strikeout in the sixth before turning it over to her offense to finish the game.

Wood started the inning with a leadoff single and moved to second with a stolen base. She was moved to third after a groundout from Jasper. Then Cheeseman sent a ball to left field for a sacrifice fly, giving UC the 2-1 lead.

The bottom of the third was a three up, three down inning. The final two outs were strikeouts to Burgess' name, with the last one going down looking. The win marks the first that Burgess has tallied this season.
 
GAME TWO: #16 CRUSADERS NARROWLY DEFEAT #22 PATRIOTS, 1-0 (8 INN.)
The top-25 matchup quickly turned into a pitchers' dual with Radford going the complete game for Cumberlands, marking her third of the season. On the other side, UC's defense recorded three hits in the contest and leaving seven runners on base.

UC had two runners on in the first inning, starting similar to the earlier game. Cheeseman had a walk and Sickau earned an infield single, but they were stranded on the base paths.

William Carey had a leadoff single and then got her into scoring position, however Radford tallied two of her strikeouts in the frame, not allowing the runner to score.

From the second to the sixth inning there were five, three up, three down innings combined by both teams with just three hits. In that time Radford record three more strikeouts.

In the seventh, the Patriots got a hit from Hoop to lead off the inning and Taylor Green came in to run for her. Green was moved to second from a groundout, but she was left stranded keeping the 0-0 score.

Radford recorded two more strikeouts in the seventh to push the game to extra innings, the first one of the season for the Patriots. The international tiebreaker was put into place, but UC left their runner on third. The Crusaders utilized a sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly to center field to get their runner across and win the game, 1-0.

William Carey came into the game averaging 8.6 runs per game and ten hits per game, but Radford kept them at bay with just the one run and three hits.

UC will continue to compete at the NFCA Leadoff for day two of action when they face both (RV) College of Coastal Georgia and (RV) Mobile on Saturday, February 26. The game against the Mariners is scheduled for 11AM with live video available here and live stats here.
 
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