Williamsburg, KY- The seventh-ranked Patriots start their playoff run with a run-rule victory over Wilberforce. Cumberlands took the game 17-5 while tallying five extra-base hits and 15 walks. Cumberlands now sit at 41-6 on the season.

Hunter Rigsby got the start and pitched 3.0 innings scattering four hits for one earned run, no walks, and five strikeouts. Jake Kmiecik came in relief to pick up the win as he pitched 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with two hits and four strikeouts.

Caden Petrey led the way on offense, going 2-5 with a home run and a double, and four RBIs. Ryan Shavers and Max Harper both added a homerun as well. Ben Snapp went 2-2 with three RBIs and three walks.

The Bulldogs opened the game with two runs, and UC answered with a seven-run inning to take control of the game. With one out, Charlie Muniz got walked, and courtesy runner Kevin Perez advanced to second on a wild pitch before stealing third. Harper then got walked and a few pitches later, both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Evan St Claire tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single to right field. He would steal second a few pitches later. Snap singled toward third base and advanced on an error while a run scored to take the lead. Josh Simon then got walked and would advance to second, while Snapp went to third and scored on an error for the 4-2 lead. After a Shavers walk, Petrey hit a three-run bomb over the left-center fence for the 7-2 lead. That home run broke the Patriots the single-season home run record.

In the second, the Pats put up three more runs by way of the long ball. Harper led off with a solo home run for the 8-2 lead. Two batters later, Snapp got walked. After another out, Shavers powered a ball clear over the left field fence for the 10-2 lead.

Later in the fourth, Wilberforce scored a run, and the Pats responded with three runs in their at-bat. Snapp got walked to start the inning. After an out, Shavers got hit by a pitch, and Petrey followed with an RBI double. Raphy Almanzar gave UC the 12-3 lead with an RBI. Muniz then got walked to load the bases, and all the runners would advance on a wild pitch to take the 13-3 lead.

Cumberlands added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the 17-3 lead. Muniz got walked to lead off the inning. Sujel Arias followed with a double down the left field line; then Harper got walked to load the bases. UC would score on a balk for the 14-3 lead. After a St Claire walk, Snapp notched a two RBI single to right field for the 16-3 lead. A few pitches later, St Claire would score on an RBI sacrifice fly from Simon.

The Bulldogs scored two runs in the top of the seventh but could not get any closer as the Patriots got the run-rule victory. UC will be back in action tomorrow at 1 pm. If they win that game, they will be headed to Bowling Green, KY, for the remainder of the Mid-South Tourney.  

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