Williamsburg, KY – No. 8 UC Baseball moves to 7-2 after coming from behind to run-rule Indiana University Southeast, 17-7 on Wednesday afternoon at Doyle Buhl Stadium. The Patriots combined for 17 hits, with three home runs, and were issued eight walks. The pitching staff totaled seven strikeouts and allowed nine hits on the day.

Kailen Hamson took his first start on the mound as a Patriot, going for two full innings, allowing seven runs on four hits. He was relieved in the third inning, by Jake Kmiecik, who was credited with the win. Moving to 2-0, the graduate student went three innings, notching three strikeouts and allowing no runs to cross the plate. Michael Tolson closed out for Cumberlands, pitching the final two innings. He threw four strikeouts and gave up no hits and no runs.

Behind the plate, Max Harper had a perfect day, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Left fielder Johnboy Rittenhouse, also went 3-for-3, marking three singles and a sacrifice fly and three RBIs. In the third hole, Evan St. Claire recorded two hits of four at-bats on the day, with two singles and two runs scored. The Grenadiers' pitching staff only struck out one Patriot batter.

IU Southeast put up five runs in the top of the second inning, after two walks, a double, and a homer.

Cumberlands responded in the bottom of the same frame, plating five runs to tie the game. The inning opened on a walk to Alec Gonzalez and a single hit by Johnboy Rittenhouse. Both runners advanced to scoring position on a pass ball, followed by a run scored by an error. Caden Petrey reached on a fielders choice and was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Charlie Muñiz. Walks were issued to Ben Snapp and Evan St. Claire and advanced when Max Harper singled to left field. Jose Valentin put a single up the middle to send St. Claire home.

In the top of the third, the Grenadiers plated two more to take a 7-5 lead.

UC was able to shorten the gap to 7-6 in the bottom of three, when Rittenhouse was walked and scored on a Petrey double, down the left line.

The Patriots pushed ahead of IU Southeast, 8-7, in the bottom of the fourth inning. Harper recorded his third home run of the season to tie it up. The next batter, Jose Valentin was walked and advanced to second on interference by the Grenadier first baseman. Gonzalez followed with a single to put Valentin on third, and he scored on a Rittenhouse sacrifice fly to left field.

In the bottom of the fifth frame, the Pats scored five runs on four hits, starting off with back-to-back homers hit by Snapp and Muñiz. St. Claire singled up the middle and bases were loaded with two walked batters, Harper and Valentin. All the runners advanced and one run scored on a wild pitch. Harper crossed the plate on another wild pitch and was followed at home by Valentin on an RBI single from Rittenhouse.

UC added four more to the board and run-ruled IU Southeast in the bottom of the seventh. Harper led off with a single to left and took second on a wild pitch. With three more singles by Valentin, Gonzalez, and Rittenhouse, two runs were able to score. Benner marked a single, followed by Petrey with an RBI single. The Pats secured the early game when Muñiz launched a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing Benner home.

Cumberlands will finish out their homestand with a three-game series against Wilberforce. The first game will take place on Friday February 23^rd at 3 p.m. The Patriots will wrap up on Saturday February 24^th, with a double header at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
 
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