Williamsburg, KY– A three homerun day gets the Patriots past Shawnee State 8-7 in game one of the series. Senior outfielder Ray Villanueva hit the walkoff homer to advance UC's record to 24-13.

Starting with the offensive stats, Villanueva went 2-5 with a homer while freshman Seth Benner went 1-3 and a homer. Sean Cheely also had a good day going 3-4 with a stolen base, while Andres Rolon went 2-4 and notched a homerun.

Hunter Rigsby got the start and went 5.0 innings allowing four hits for three runs, two walks and eight strikeouts. Jake Kmiecik came in relief and pitched 3.0 innings giving up two runs on three hits with four strikeouts. Chipper Korbacher came in to get the save but got the win instead after pitching 1.0 innings allowing only one hit, one run with two strikeouts. He moves to 3-3 on the season.

UC got on the board first as they scored two runs after a scoreless first inning. Villanueva singled through the left side with two outs. Benner followed with a homerun to dead center to take the 2-0 lead.

The Bears responded with four runs in the top of the third. UC answered with a leadoff double by Luis Alvarez. Cheely then stepped up to the plate and singled then advanced to second, Alvarez would go to third on the play. Raphy Almanzar would then tie the game with a two RBI single up the middle.

After a couple scoreless innings, the Patriots regained the lead with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Cheely ledoff with a single through the right side and stole second on the very next pitch. Almanzar notched another RBI as he singled to right center and Cheely scored for the 5-4 lead. Charlie Muniz stepped to the plate and singled through the right side, and Kevin Perez came into courtesy run. Sujel Arias then singled to right center, allowing Almanzar to score on the play for the 6-4 lead.

A few innings later, Shawnee State tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the eighth, UC regained the lead as Rolon ledoff with a homerun over the left field fence, to make the score 7-6.

Then in the top of the ninth, the Bears scored another run to tie the game. With the game tied at 7-7 with one out, Villanueva hit his third homerun of the season to give UC the 8-7 walkoff win.

Cumberlands returns to action tomorrow for a double header to finish this weekend's MSC series against Shawnee State. The first game is set to start at 1 pm.

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