Williamsburg, KY- The 11^th ranked Patriots played a great all-around game as they take the series opener against the Bulldogs 18-1. Charlie Muniz and Hunter Rigsby put on a show as UC moved to 27-5 on the season.

Rigsby had a great day on the mound, as he pitched 6.0 innings only allowing two hits and putting in a new career high of 14 strikeouts. Javier Martinez came in relief and closed the game as he pitched 1.0 innings allowing two hits, no earned runs and two strikeouts.

Muniz put on a show at the plate, going 5-5 with three homeruns and nine RBIs. Evan St Claire also had a good day, going 2-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Caden Petrey went 2-2 with two walks, while Ben Snapp added a double.

Rigsby gave the Pats the early momentum after notching an immaculate inning to start the game. Then with one out, Muniz scored the game's first run with a solo home run to left center for the 1-0 lead.

Later in the bottom of the third, UC added five runs to their lead. Petrey led off the inning with a single to center field. Two batters later, Muniz singled to right field and put runners on the corners. Courtesy runner Josiah Santiago stole second a few pitches later. Petrey and Santiago would score on wild pitches, while Max Harper got walked. St Claire followed with a bomb to right field to take the 5-0 lead. Next, Snapp got hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. An RBI single up the middle from Josh Simon scored the final run of the inning.
After holding Wilberforce scoreless in the top of the fourth, Cumberlands added two more runs to their lead. Petrey led off the inning by getting walked. Two batters later, Muniz notched his second home run of the day, this time to left field for the 8-0 lead.

UC had a monster fifth inning as they put up 10 runs for the 18-0 lead. Simon started the inning with a walk, and Santiago came in to run for him. Two batters later, Petrey got walked. Raphy Almanzar then singled through the left side to fill the bases. Then the hot-hitting Muniz stepped to the plate and hit a grand slam for his third home run of the day. Arias got walked, and Harper followed with a single to right field. Next, St Claire notched an RBI single for the 13-0 lead. Luiz Alvarez came into hit and got hit by a pitch to fill the bases. Two batters later, Ryan Shavers notched a two-RBI single for the 15-0 lead. Petrey followed with an RBI single for the 16-0 lead, and Almanzar reached on a fielder's choice to fill the bases. Then a two-RBI single from Muniz gave UC the 18-0 lead.

The Bulldogs scored one run in the top of the seventh but could not get any closer. UC will look to win the series in tomorrow's doubleheader starting at noon.

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