Williamsburg, KY - Cumberlands found themselves down 1-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning against USC Beaufort in the NAIA Opening Round. Makenzie Keatts led off the inning with a single just to the right of second base. Emily Bryant followed it up with a bunt that rolled past the first baseman, all the way to the grass putting a pair of runners on. Bailey Turnbow was next and she hit a grounder to the shortstop who tried to throw Keatts out at third but her throw was wild to load the bases. With a 3-1 count, Mackenzie Pawlak drove the ball into left center field. It scored Keatts easily from third and then a wild throw from the centerfielder allowed Bryant to come around to score for the 3-2 Cumberlands win.

Pawlak led the team, going 3-4 from the plate, scoring once and having one RBI. Both Maddie Sickau and Keatts tallied two hits in the contests.

In the circle it was pitch by committee with Talli Burgess, Kaiti White and Morgan Radford all seeing action in the game. Burgess got the start and then finished the game earning her 19th win of the season, giving her the single season record at UC. Burgess totaled 3.2 innings, striking out four and giving up just one run and three hits. White was the first one off the bench, dealing for 3.1 innings, giving up no runs and just five hits. Radford was the last pitcher in the contest going 1.0 inning, limiting the Sand Sharks to one run off no hits and one strikeout.

Strong defense was on display all game for Cumberlands where they recorded two double plays. First was in the top of the second inning with a runner on first with one out. A hard hit ball at Bryant at third, but she back handed it, starting the 5-4-3 double play. 

The Pats then got going in the bottom half of the second thanks to a single from Pawlak into left field. Meryn Livingston followed it up with a single to the shortstop to put a pair of runners on. Radford had a check swing that the third baseman could not handle, allowing Pawlak to score all the way from second for the 1-0 UC lead. 

The Sand Sharks answered back in the next half inning, with a solo home run hitting off the top of the fence in left center field. USCB then looked to take the lead in the top of the fourth inning off back-to-back walks to start the inning. This brought White into the game and she got the first batter to popout and then a fielder's choice to get the lead runner at third. The next batter launched the ball into left field. The Sand Sharks sent their runner from second home, but the relay from Keatts to Bryant and then Livingston at home was too quick, hosing the runner at the plate.

UC again got a double play in the sixth inning when the ball was hit up the middle. Sickau took it herself and then fired the ball to Turnbow at first to get out of the frame.

The Sand Sharks threatened in the sixth inning with two singles on one out. Radford entered the circle and got the first batter she faced down on strikes and then a fly out to right to not allow a runner to score. 

Neither team could score a run in the seventh forcing it to extra innings. Three straight walks loaded the bases for USCB and brought Burgess back into the contest. A single to center field scored one run, but Burgess got the final two batters down on strikes to leave them loaded and the team down just 2-1.

The big inning for UC in the eighth for UC gave the program their first NAIA Opening Round game in program history. The Patriots are now 45-3-1 on the season and are on a 20-game unbeaten streak.

In the first game of the Opening Round, #3 seed Madonna defeated #2 seed Indiana Wesleyan, 2-0 and will now play UC. Due to the weather in the forecast the game has been moved up to 10AM ET. Then Indiana Wesleyan and USCB will play in the elimination game and then the elimination bracket finale will end the day. 

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