Florence, KY- The ninth-ranked Patriots swept today's doubleheader to win the series over Thomas More. UC took game one 9-6, then won 17-2 to take the series 2-1. Cumberlands moves to 36-6 on the season and 19-5 in MSC play.

Game One 9-6

Garrett DeClue got the start and the win as he pitched 4.2 innings, scattering four runs over six hits, with four walks and two strikeouts. Caleb Plummer came in relief and pitched 1.1 innings, not allowing a hit or earned run with three strikeouts. Cesar Avila came into close and pitched 1.0 innings allowing one hit and no earned runs.

Evan St Claire led the way at the plate as he went 2-3 with a home run and a double for two RBIs. Max Harper and Josh Simon added home runs, as Harper went 2-4 and Simon went 1-2. Raphy Almanzar and Ryan Shavers added doubles as well.

 UC got on the board first as Raphy Almanzar led off with a double to left center. Two batters later, Sujel Arias notched an RBI single for the 1-0 lead.

The Patriots added two more runs in the second inning to increase the lead. Josh Simon got walked with two outs, and Ryan Shavers followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Then Caden Petrey notched a two-RBI single to take a 3-0 lead.

In the third, the Pats scored two runs off a two-run homer from Evan St Claire for the 5-0 lead.

After the Saints scored a run in the fourth, UC answered by scoring four runs. With one out, Arias singled up the middle, and Max Harper followed with a bomb to left center for the 7-1 lead. Two batters later, Ben Snapp reached on a fielder's choice, then Simon would make it a 9-1 game with a home run to right field.  

Thomas More would score five runs, but the Pats held on to win the game 9-6 and tie the series.

Game Two 17-2

Knicko Billings got the start and the win after pitching 6.0 innings, only allowing two runs on eight hits, with no walks and six strikeouts. Chipper Korbacher came in relief and pitched 2.0 innings, allowing one hit, no runs, and four strikeouts. Avila made his second appearance of the day and pitched 1.0 innings giving up three hits while striking out two.

Pats tallied six home runs, with Simon leading the way going 4-5 with two home runs and six RBIs. Petrey went 3-5 with a home run and two RBIs. Arias also had a good game two, as he went 2-4 with a home run and an RBI. Luis Alvarez and Harper also added homers.

Thomas More took the early 2-0 lead in the first before the Pats responded in the second to take the 3-2 lead. Harper led off the inning with a walk, and St Claire followed with a single to center field. Snapp laid down a sac bunt to advance both runners before Simon stepped to the plate and hit his first home run of the game for the 3-2 lead.

The Pats would hold the Saints scoreless for the rest of the game while adding to their lead. They scored four runs in the third to take the 7-2 lead. Almanzar led off with a walk, and two batters later, Arias singled up the middle to put runners on the corners. Then back-to-back hits by pitch would give UC the 4-2 lead. After a change of pitchers, Simon notched a two-RBI single up the middle for the 6-2 lead. A couple of pitches later, the Pats would score on a wild pitch.

After a few scoreless innings, Cumberlands would get back-to-back solo home runs in the seventh from Arias and Harper for the 9-2 lead. Then in the eighth, the Pats added two more runs to their lead. Ryan Shavers led off with a double to left center. While Petrey followed with a home run to right center for the 11-2 lead.

Later in the ninth, UC tallied six runs to go up by double figures. With two outs, Simon notched a solo home run to right center for the 12-2 lead. Shavers would get walked before Petrey notched a single to left field. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases and scored a run for the 13-2 lead. After a pitching change, Alvarez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a grand slam to right field for the 17-2 lead.

Cumberlands will return home next week to take on Midway Tuesday, April 18, at 4 pm. The following day they will host Tennessee Wesleyan at 5 pm.

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