Williamsburg, KY – For the second straight game, the #3 Cumberlands Patriots run-ruled their opponent in five innings. This time, it was to Mid-South Conference opponent Thomas More, blanking them 9-0. UC remains undefeated in conference play at 8-0 and the Saints fall to 5-6.
 
Talli Burgess had one of her best outings in a UC uniform. She surrendered just two hits in five innings of work. But the impressive number on the day was Burgess tallying ten strikeouts, for her new career best, breaking her past record of nine, she set back in 2021 against Ohio Christian. On the season, the Crandall, GA native now has 77 Ks.
 
The UC offense put up eight hits in their four innings of offense. Three of those hits came from Makenzie Keatts who recorded a single, double and triple while racking up four RBI. Emily Bryant drove in a pair of runs, off a home run to left field, her second of the season. Carly Oliver was able to pick up a pair of hits and score twice herself.
 
The Saints had a runner on second in the first inning with one out, but Burgess' presence was felt early, striking out the next two batters to end the inning. Cumberlands also threatened in the bottom frame, but a double play ended their attack.
 
Once again Burgess recorded a pair of strikeouts, but this time it ignited the offense for Cumberlands. Bailey Turnbow started it all with a single down the left field line. She was then put into scoring position from a sac bunt off the bat of Mackenzie Pawlak. Next up was Hailey Wood who hit a ball in the 5-6 hole allowing Turnbow to be on third and her at first. Wood then took off and swiped second base for her 113^th career stolen base, breaking the career stolen base record. With two runners in scoring position, a wild pitch scored Turnbow and put Wood on third. Kaysee Dale put the ball in play scoring Wood. Next Oliver got aboard and up stepped Keatts to the plate. She blasted the ball to left field hitting the wall and bringing around both Dale and Oliver. Her two RBI double made the UC lead 4-0.
 
After another two strikeout inning off the arm of Burgess, the UC offense got back to work. With two outs on the scoreboard Meryn Livingston got aboard after getting hit by a pitch and an error put Dale on as well. Oliver sent the ball into left field scoring Livingston from third. Both Dale and Oliver advanced 60 feet from a wild pitch. Then in stepped Keatts who kept the hot bat. This time she hit the ball oppo, over the head of the right fielder and racing around for the two RBI triple. Bryant was the next batter and smacked the ball over the left field fence to make it 9-0 in favor of UC.
 
In the next frame, Burgess struckout the side, sending the batters down in order. Then in the fifth, one batter got on for the Saints, but a Burgess K and two popouts finished the game, giving UC their ninth shutout of the season. It also marks the team eighth run-rule of the year. The Patriots are now 28-3 on the season.

Cumberlands and Thomas More will return to the UC Softball Complex on Sunday, April 2 for the final two games of the series. The first game will start at 12PM ET.
 
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics. Please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, Youtube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.