New Albany, IN– Patriots fell to IU Southeast 11-9 in the season finale on Tuesday evening. This puts UC at a 38-13 to finish the regular season.

Ray Villanueva and Candido Encarnacion led the way offensively as both went 3-5. Encarnacion had a homerun and a double while Villanueva had a triple and double. UC threw nine pitchers today and Walter Hernandez got the start, but Bryan Juarez took the lost and is now 2-2 on the season.

UC took the lead early notching four runs on four hits in the top of the first. Sean Cheely got walked to start the game, then Raphy Almanzar followed with an RBI double to left center for the 1-0 lead. Villanueva then laid down a bunt and beat out the throw for a single.  With runners on the corners, Sujel Arias doubled down the left field line bringing home both runners for the 3-0 lead. Encarnacion singled through the left side to get runners on the corners again. A sacrifice fly from Seth Benner, brought home one more run home to take the 4-0 lead.

The Grenadiers put two runs on the board in the bottom of the first, the Pats answered with one in the in the second by way of a double down the left field line by Luis Alvarez. Then he advanced to third and scored on a wild pitch for the 5-2 lead.

IU Southeast put up four runs in the third and one in the fourth to take the 8-5. UC cut the lead down to one in the top of the fifth after scoring two runs. Villanueva tripled to center field and Arias followed with a groundout RBI. Then Encarnacion hit his third homerun of the season for the 8-7 score.

After the Grenadiers scored another run in their next at bat, then Patriots scored a run to keep it a one run game. Shelton got walked and Kevin Perez came into courtesy run. Perez was able to advance twice on wild pitches. Then a sacrifice fly by Cheely cut the lead to 9-8.

The Grenadiers tacked on two more runs to made it 11-8 headed to the ninth inning. Before UC scored one run as Cheely led off by getting walked. Cheely then went to second on a passed ball, before going to third on a groundout. An RBI double by Villanueva score a run for the score of 11-9. That would be the closest UC got.

Cumberlands is set to host UT Southern Friday and Saturday for the MSC Tournament Opening Round. First pitch Friday is at 4 pm and Saturday at 2 pm. There will be a second game on Saturday 30 minutes after the first game if necessary.

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