Williamsburg, KY- Two three-run innings helped propel the 15^th ranked Patriots to a walk-off win against 18^th ranked Indiana Southeast. Four Pats hit home runs in the season opener.

The Patriots threw eight arms in the season opener with Jake Kmiecik getting the start. Both Knicko Billings and Tyler Shafer notched four strikeouts a piece. While Cesar Avila got his first win as a Patriot as he pitched 1.0 innings with two strikeouts and no walks.

In the batter's box, Sujel Arias went 2-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base. At the same time, Raphy Almanzar went 3-5 with two doubles. Ryan Shavers went 2-3 at the plate with a two-run homer. Evan St Claire had a home run, and some highlight plays in center field, as he threw someone out at home from his spot in center field. Max Harper also hit a homer and notched a walk to walk off the game.



The Patriots gave up a pair of home runs in the first couple of innings that saw the Grenadiers jumping out to a 4-0 lead. The Pats would get their bats going in the top of the sixth after Charlie Muniz swung the momentum UC's way when he caught someone stealing to get out the top half of the inning. Arias led off with a bomb over the right-center field fence. Three batters later, Shavers notched a walk. Then St Claire stepped to the plate and hit a two-run homer to trim the lead down to 4-3.



In the top of the seventh, IU Southeast extended their lead to 6-3. Cumberlands would tie the game in the bottom of the eighth with another three-run inning. That inning started with a leadoff bomb from Harper clear over the left field fence to make it a 6-4 game. After a pitching change, Josh Simon came to the plate and notched a walk. Then on the first pitch of Shavers at bat, Simon advanced to second on a wild pitch. On the next pitch, Shavers notched a two-run homer to left center to tie the game at 6-6.



In the top of the ninth, Avila stepped on the mound and picked up two strikeouts and a liner straight to St Claire in center field to keep the game tied at 6-6. Almanzar led off the ninth with his second double of the game. The Grenadiers intentionally walked Muniz, which brought Arias to the plate with two on base. Arias reached first on a fielding error, which filled the bases. Harper then came to the plate and took four straight balls to walk off the game with a walk.

The Patriots start the season 1-0 and will head down to Georgia to take on Point University at the Perfect Game Fields. That series will start on Friday, February 10^th at 3 pm.

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