Waleska, GA – The No. 8 Patriots take down No. 23 Reinhardt in their first appearance of the 2024 season, on Thursday evening at Ken White Field.

Cumberlands (1-0) had three homeruns and collected 10 total hits for seven runs, while holding the Eagles to five runs.

Kailen Hamson was credited with his first Patriot win after he entered the game in the bottom of the third, and went three full innings. The junior tallied six strikeouts and allowed three hits, while holding the Eagles' offense to no runs. Relief pitcher Chipper Korbacher closed the game in the bottom of the ninth, throwing two strikeouts and notching his first save of the season and 11^th of his career.

Caden Petrey went 2-for-2, hitting a homerun and a double, collecting two RBIs. Ben Snapp went 1-for-4 and recorded a three-run homer.

In the bottom of the first, Reinhardt took an early 2-0 lead from a two-run homer.

UC quickly responded, with a three-run home run hit by Ben Snapp, in the top of the second. After two walks to put Johnboy Rittenhouse and Alec Gonzalez on base, Snapp brought them home with a blast off the bat, and helped the Pats take a 3-1 lead. After a fly-out in the next at-bat, Caden Petrey launched a homer to extend the score to 4-2.

In the top of the fourth inning, Trent Prokes tacked on another run for the Patriots with a solo home run, taking the lead to 5-2.

The Eagles trimmed the score to 5-3 with a run off a double in the bottom of the fifth.

The Pats answered with another run in the top of the sixth and took the score to 6-3. Gonzalez singled to left field and was able to score off Petrey's second hit of the night, a double to left.  

Reinhardt fought back, but still trailed 6-4 after scoring one run on an error at the bottom of the sixth.

Cumberlands earned one run on two hits in the top of the seventh. Evan St. Claire doubled to left center and scored UC's final run after Rittenhouse singled to left field and brought him home for the 7-4 lead.

The Eagles added one more run off a home run in the bottom of the seventh, shortening the gap to 7-5.

Pitchers Michael Tolson and Chipper Korbacher held Reinhardt to no hits and no runs, striking four out to secure the Patriot win.

UC will face the No. 9 Indiana University Trojans at 11:00 a.m. ET on Friday February 9^th, followed by a matchup against Tennessee Southern at 2:00 p.m. ET.

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