Columbus, GA - In the team's third game at the NAIA World Series, the #3 UC softball team dropped the contest 9-1 to #4 Southern Oregon in five innings. The loss pushes Cumberlands to the elimination bracket, but still alive in the tournament.

UC rattled off three hits in the game one from Makenzie Keatts, Carly Oliver and Mackenzie Pawlak. For Keatts she blasted a home run, marking her fourth of the World Series which set a new record for most homers in a World Series, in the new format. 

In the circle, it was once again by committee with Talli Burgess, Kaiti White and Morgan Radford all appearing for UC. Burgess got the start and had her first loss of the season and is now 21-1. Burgess went 1.1 innings giving up five runs off four hits. White came into the contest next, pitching 2.1 innings where she conceded four runs off five hits. Radford came in for 0.1 innings where she did not give up a hit.

The Raiders got on the scoreboard first, putting up a trio of runs off a three-run homer. With two outs in the top of the second inning, Pawlak roped a ball through the left side with a standup double. However Pawlak was stranded on second.

Southern Oregon picked up two more runs in the bottom of the frame off two hits to make it 5-0. Then once again with two outs for UC in the top of the third, Oliver sailed a ball to right field for a single. However she was stranded on first.

Cumberlands got their lone three up, three down inning of the contest in the fourth with two groundouts and a lineout to Emily Bryant at third base.

Keatts led the fourth inning off with a solo home run over the centerfield fence to give UC a run in the game for a 5-1 score.

The Raiders sealed the deal in the fourth inning with four more runs off four hits to make it a 9-1 ballgame. UC was unable to get a baserunner in the fifth inning for the run-rule loss.

This marks back-to-back games that Southern Oregon has run-ruled their opponent where they are outsourcing teams 24-2 at the World Series.

The loss for UC snaps a 24-game unbeaten streak and marks the first time UC has been run-ruled since February 26, 2022. Over the course of the 24-game unbeaten streak, Cumberlands outscored their opponents 163-52.

The Patriots will next play the winner of Oregon Tech vs Marian for a chance to play in the Championship. Cumberlands will play at 7:00PM ET on ESPN3 on Tuesday, May 30.

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