Williamsburg, KY – The 25^th-ranked Patriots baseball got a big three homerun day, including the game-winner, out of Charlie Muniz to get the win over (RV) Point Park 12-10 on Friday night.

Starting the day on the mound was Braxton Cottongame, he pitched 3.0 innings and gave up four earned runs on ten hits, with two walks and four strikeouts. Walter Hernandez came in relief and pitched 5.0 innings, only allowing four hits for three runs, only two was earned, one walk, and a career best 10 strikeouts. Hernandez would get the win and move to 3-1 on the season. Chipper Korbacher came in to pitch the top of the eighth, as he notched his third save of the season, with two strikeouts on 12 pitches.

Offensively the freshmen Muniz from Naranjito, PR, showed why he is the best hitter in the NAIA right now, as he went 3-5 with all three hits being homeruns. He also tallied seven RBIs. Andres Rolon went 3-4 with a momentum shifting triple as well as a double.  

UC found themselves down 2-0 to start their first at bat. With one out Raphy Almanzar got it started with a single down the right field line and advanced to second on a balk. Two batters later, Sujel Arias notched an RBI single up the middle to put UC on the board.  

After the Pioneers scored another run for the 3-1 lead, the Patriots responded with four runs in the second inning to take a 5-3 lead. Seth Benner led off with a single through the left side. Rolon followed with a single up the middle. Luis Alvarez then came to the plate. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Alvarez went for a bunt attempt and the Pioneers threw a wild pitch that advanced both runners. Then on the next pitch, Alvarez hit the ball to right center for a two RBI double to tie the game at 3-3. Three batters later, Muniz stepped up and hit his first bomb of the day to take the 5-3 lead.

Point Park answered with four runs of their own to regain the lead 7-5 in the top of the third. The Pats followed with one run as Ray Villanueva got a one out single down the left field line. Two batters later, Rolon notched an RBI double as he hit one down the right field line. This cut the gap to 7-6.

The Pioneers expanded their lead to 9-6 in the top of the fourth, before UC tied the game at 9-9. Sean Cheely led off with a single to right center then stole second a few pitches later. Almanzar got walked and Muniz followed with a two-strike homer to left field that tied the game at 9-9.   

After a couple scoreless innings Point Park regained a 10-9 lead in the top of the seventh. The Patriots answered with a one out single from Villanueva. After a Pioneer ejection, Villanueva advanced to second on a passed ball, then a few plays later advanced to third on a balk. With two outs Rolon came to the plate and got an RBI triple which tied the game at 10-10.

UC was able to hold the Pioneers scoreless in the top of the eighth, then was able to take the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Almanzar led off by reaching first on a Point Park fielding error. The hot hitting Muniz followed with his third homer this time over the right field fence for the 12-10 lead.

Those runs proved to be the last of the game as UC held the Pioneers scoreless in the top of the ninth. Cumberlands return to action tomorrow as they take on eighth ranked Georgia Gwinnett at noon.

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