Pikeville, KY – On the final day of the four-game series against Pikeville, #15 Cumberlands took two, completing the series sweep. Not only did UC sweep UPike but they also did not give up a single run, outscoring the Bears 27-0 across the four games. This marks the first time in program history that UC has blanked a team over a four-game series in a single season. Game three was won 4-0 and then they run-ruled the Bears 13-0, for the most runs UC has put up this season. UC is now 31-14 on the season, marking the sixth time in program history and the third time under fifth-year Head Coach Bailey Dillender.

Time in the circle for the final two games was split between five arms who combined for no runs, striking out 14, giving up 10 hits and only one free pass. Kaiti White and Talli Burgess combined in game three, not giving up an extra base hit in their seven innings of work. White had one K while Burgess had her season best of eight to tally the win. Morgan Radford got the start in the series finale, striking out two in three innings in the circle. Kaci Goedde came in for middle relief, picking up the win and striking out one batter. Abby Whelan closed out the final inning, racking up a strikeout from the final batter.

The Cumberlands offense recorded 12 RBI from five different hitters. Maddie Sickau paced the team, bringing in half of the RBI with six off her six hits. She also tallied four extra base hits, three doubles and her fourth homer of the 2022 campaign. Both Paxton Hoop and Abby Whelan notched a pair of RBI in the two games with Hailey Wood and Katie Cheeseman each earning one.

GAME THREE: PATRIOTS BLANK BEARS, 4-0
Wood led off the game and the inning getting on from an error and then stealing second to get into scoring position. After a groundout Wood was on third for Sickau at the plate. The Anderson County, TN native used the squeeze bunt, allowing Wood to score easily and putting Sickau on first for the 1-0 UC lead.

Over the next two innings, the Patriots turned a pair of double plays. First was in the bottom of second inning off a ball hit to White. She checked the runner back on second and fired to Tori Malone at first. The runner took off for third, but Malone gunned her down at the base with Emily Bryant applying the tag. The next double play was in the third frame on a traditional 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

The defense led to offense, starting with a Bryant single to centerfield. Cheeseman was the next batter, putting the ball in play, that resulted in an errant throw, scoring Bryant and putting Cheeseman at third. Next up was Whelan who grounded out to the shortstop but Cheeseman had a great jump off the bag and scored easily to make it a 3-0 lead.

The Bears were threatening in the fourth off two singles and an error, bringing in Burgess for relief work. There was already one out in the inning that White had got from a strikeout, when Burgess entered the bases loaded situation. The Crandall, GA native stayed calm and cool, getting the next two batters to strikeout, keeping the shutout alive.

Burgess started the next inning with two more strikeouts, making it four in a row. She also struck out the side in the sixth, retiring seven of the eight she faced from K's. The Patriots added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, led by a walk to Mackenzie Pawlak. She moved to third off two groundouts and then Sickau brought her around for her second RBI of the game off a double to left center field.

With the 4-0 advantage in the seventh, Burgess struckout the first batter looking and then retired the side in order for her sixth win of the year.

CUMBERLANDS RUN-RULES PIKEVILLE, 13-0
UC once again got the offense started in the first frame. Wood, Bryant and Cheeseman all got walked, swiped a stolen base, and crossed home plate from a passed ball to make it 3-0 in favor fo the Pats.

Radford struckout the first batter she saw, got a flyout and a popout and turned it over to the offense where UC once again plated three runs. Wood and Emily Jasper each got singles and stole a base putting runners on second and third. This brought up Sickau who stayed hot at the plate, doubling for two more RBI. Sickau was then able to score herself off a Cheeseman infield single to make it a 6-0 ballgame.

In Radford's final inning of work she struckout two batters bringing her total to three in the game. The next half inning was productive for the offense, started from the leadoff walk of Whelan. Malone followed it up with a double to left center for a pair of runners in scoring position. Both of them did score, Whelan off a single from Hoop and Malone off a sac fly from Wood to make it 8-0 in favor of Cumberlands.

Sickau kickstarted the fourth inning off another double and Bryant got on from an error to put runners on the corners. Whelan got an infield single to push Sickau across and moved Bryant to third. A dropped third strike that had the Bears throw to first allowed Bryant to score and Whelan to get to third. Hoop picked up her second RBI, singling to left center field, allowing Whelan to score for the 11-0 lead.

UPike had the bases loaded with no outs in the fourth inning. Goedde struckout the next batter, got a fielder's choice at the plate and had a flyout to make sure no runs scored.

UC kept their streak going, scoring in every inning of the game, this time plating two. Wood placed the ball between short and third for the single. She was brought in from the home run to left field for the two RBI and her fourth of the season. Her blast made it 13-0.

Whelan came in for the final inning and she issued a strikeout to the last out, sealing the victory. The 13 runs for UC are the most they have scored all season and ties the most the recorded a season ago. Goedde got the win making her 3-0 on the year.

For the series, every hitter that stepped to the plate for the Pats got a hit. Sickau led the way with nine hits, giving her a .643 batting average in the four games with five extra base hits, tallying seven RBI. Bryant, Cheeseman, Wood and Jasper all got four hits of their own. The team had 11 stolen bases led by Wood with four and Jasper notching three. Jasper has now tied Kaylee James for the most stolen bases in a single season at 43.

The pitching staff recorded a 0.00 ERA, striking out 24 Bears hitters and giving up 17 hits in the 24 innings. They only walked five batters and held the opposing batters to a .202 batting average.

UC will stay in MSC play for their final regular season games of the season. The Patriots will host the Tigers of Georgetown starting April 22. First pitch is slated for 3PM for a double header.

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