Portsmouth, OH- The ninth-ranked Patriots took the series opener against Shawnee State in run-rule fashion. They won 13-1 and improved to 31-5 on the season.

Hunter Rigsby got the start and win as he pitched 6.2 innings, scattering four hits for one run, a walk, and seven strikeouts. Josh Descher came into close and got the final out of the game by strikeout. At the plate, Max Harper led the way going 4-5. Josh Simon had a good day going 2-5 with a home run and a double for five RBIs. Both Charlie Muniz and Ryan Shavers added home runs as well.

The Patriots got on the board first in their first at-bat. With two outs, Sujel Arias notched a double to left field, and Max Harper followed with an RBI single up the middle for the 1-0 lead.

In their next at-bat, UC scored three more runs with two outs to extend their lead. Caden Petrey got walked with two outs, and Raphy Almanzar got hit by a pitch. With two on, Charlie Muniz hit a bomb to left field for the 4-0 lead.

Cumberlands kept their bats hot in the third as they scored another four runs. Harper led off the inning with a single through the left side. Evan St Claire then got hit by a pitch, and Ben Snapp stepped up and hit an RBI single up the middle to make it 5-0. Josh Simon followed with a two-RBI double down the left-field line for the 7-0 lead. Two batters later, Almanzar got an RBI single to left field to take an 8-0 lead.

The Bears scored a run in the fourth, and UC answered with a lead-off bomb from Ryan Shavers for the 9-1 lead.

UC scored four more runs in the top of the sixth. Harper led off with a single to left field. Two batters later, Snapp got walked, and Simon followed with a three-run shot over the right-center fence for the 12-1 lead and threatened the run rule. A couple of plays later, Petrey singled to left center, and Almanzar notched an RBI double for the 13-1 lead. UC would hold the Bears scoreless to get the run rule in seven innings. Patriots will look to win the series in tomorrow's doubleheader that starts at noon.  

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