Lebanon, TN – The Patriots picked up a pair of wins to open their series against Cumberland U. In all 13 innings played, UC never trailed, tallying 17 runs, 24 hits, and just five runs against. Cumberlands won game one, 5-2 and then issued the six-inning run rule of 12-3 in game two.

Emily Bryant led the way offensively, for the Patriots notching five hits, four RBI and two extra base hits in a homerun and double. Maddie Sickau matched Byrant in hits with five of her own while also picking up two doubles and two RBI.

Hailey Wood had a career day at the plate with her first multi-double game of her career with two in the second game and three on the day. She also got three stolen bases to give her 13 on the season. Emily Jasper swiped four on the day bringing up her season total to 23.

In the circle, both Kaiti White and Morgan Radford got the starts with Talli Burgess coming on in relief for game one. The trio combined for just five runs against, striking out 12 and only walking one batter. White led with five strikeouts and a 1.75 ERA in her four innings of work.

GAME ONE: PATRIOTS DOWN THE PHOENIX, 5-2
Cumberlands came out on the attack from the very first pitch. Wood got a leadoff double down the left field line and then stole third to be just 60 feet from scoring. Jasper hit the ball to the third baseman and she was retired, but the speed of Wood allowed her to score making it a 1-0 game.

The Phoenix hoped to get a run of their own in the next half frame, with a runner on, but White got a strikeout looking to end the inning and the threat.

Cumberland U did find their answer in the fourth inning, tying the game up at one. They got three singles to push across the run.

It did not take long for UC to regain the lead, putting up another run in the next frame. Jasper put the ball through the 5-6 hole and then stole second to be in scoring position. Sickau traded places with her for the RBI double and the 2-1 Pats lead.

Once again, the Phoenix looked to answer in their next at-bats this time in the fifth. They got back-to-back hits bringing Burgess into the game. She then sent down back-to-back hitters looking at strikes then got a flyout to Jasper to not bring across a run.

With just the one run lead, UC added on some insurance runs in the seventh. Wood led off the inning getting on base from an error and then made it count stealing both second and third. Jasper followed it up getting on base from another Phoenix error, scoring Wood and putting herself on second. Then, once again Sickau notched a double putting Jasper on third. This brought Bryant to the plate and the squeeze bunt was on. Not only did she get the bunt down to score Jasper, she arrived safely to first and Sickau scored for the 5-1 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Cumberland U got one run back, but that was all they earned for the final score of 5-2. Burgess tallied the win for her efforts giving her a season record of 2-3.

GAME TWO: PATRIOTS RUN-RULE PHOENIX, 12-3
Once again the first inning was when UC scored first, this time putting up three in the frame. Jasper got on from an infield single and stole second and third base. Meryn Livingston sent a ball to left center field, scoring Jasper. Bryant and Hoop followed it up with singles for each, loading the bases with Pats. Katie Cheeseman then laced a ball down the right field line, scoring both Bryant and Livingston for the 3-0 lead.

Cumberland U followed that up in he first with two hits and one run to make it 3-1. But in the top of the second, UC struck again. Wood led off with a double and was scored off a Sickau single to left center stretching the score to 4-1.

The Phoenix did not go away, scoring two more runs off two hits including a two-run homerun, making the score 4-3 in the third.

The Patriots followed that up with another three-run frame. Jenna Howell got aboard from a walk and she was pushed to third from Wood's third double on the day. They were both scored when Jasper put the ball in play causing an error. With Jasper on third base, Sickau singled up the middle to bring her around to score for a 7-3 UC advantage.

The fifth was quiet for both teams, but then in the sixth Cumberlands had their biggest inning of the series so far. Jasper was at third and Sickau was on first, when Livingston hit an infield single advancing everyone one base for the 8-3 lead. With two runners on, Bryant blasted the ball to right center field for the three-run homerun. But UC was not done there, Paxton Hoop restarted the offense with a single. She got to third off a fielder's choice and a walk. Wood brought her in to score from a sacrifice fly to center field. This gave UC five runs off six hits, making the score 12-3.

Radford pitched the complete game win, striking out three and giving up three runs. She earned the win for a a 5-4 record on the season.

The two wins for UC makes them 16-8 on the year and brings their Mid-South Conference record to 5-3.

The two teams will be back in action, March 11 for the final two games of the series. Game three is slated for a 1PM ET start with live video found here and live stats here.

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.