Williamsburg, KY – The sixth-ranked Patriots hosted the Georgetown Tigers for the series finale inside the UC Softball Complex, where Cumberlands secured their third straight MSC series sweep. The Patriots collected two victories (2-0, 11-3) against the Tigers to rise to an overall record of 31-4, and a conference record of 12-0. UC recorded 13 runs on 19 hits while the pitching staff recorded eight strikeouts on the day.
GAME ONE: PATRIOTS CREEP PAST TIGERS, 2-0
Both teams were quiet offensively in the first inning. The Tigers were first to record a hit in the top of the second and threaten with a pair of base runners. A critical strikeout from pitcher Lindsey Shope ended the Tigers' threat and brough the Pats to the plate. In the bottom of the second, Makenzie Keatts sparked the inning with a ball to the opposite field paired with a fielders' choice ball from Amber Atkins. With runners on first and second, the Patriots are unable to capitalize on opportunities and return to the field.
The top of the third saw a sliding catch from Kaysee Dale and Shope's third strikeout of the day to keep the Tigers at bay. The bottom of the third was sparked by a rip to the left center field gap from Amber Gainer for a standup double. Jade Gainer follows suit with a shot through the 5-6 hole for an RBI single. Jade Gainer steals second for her 13th stolen base of the season, scoring on an RBI single from Keatts to give the Patriots a 2-0 lead at the end of the third inning.
Back on defense, Cumberlands defense continues to shine as Aniyah White flashes the leather for two defensive plays to put UC back on offense. White leads off in the bottom of the fourth with a single to right center, but Cumberlands is unable to garner another base runner and sends it into the top of the fifth inning. Shope tallies her fourth strikeout of the game along with Carly Oliver making a defensive stop to hold the Tigers scoreless. The bottom of the fifth saw Jade Gainer with a walk and swiping her second stolen base of the game, but the Pats were unable to tack another run onto their 2-0 lead.
The top of the sixth saw the Tigers with a bunt to garner a base runner, but Cumberlands' kept the Tigers scoreless as they return to the plate in the bottom of the sixth. Bailey Turnbow sparked the inning with a single to shortstop followed by swiping her first bag of the game. A rip to right field from Bryant resulted in a defensive error and saw Bryant reaching second. The Patriots are unable to add to their lead, sending them into the seventh inning. Three quick outs secures the 2-0 victory and a series victory for the Patriots.
LEADERS
Leading the way offensively, Keatts was 2-3 at the plate with one RBI while Amber Gainer was 1-3 with one run. Jade Gainer was 1-2 at the plate with one run, one RBI, and one walk followed by Turnbow who was 1-2 at the plate with one walk.
Pitcher Shope threw a complete game, securing her 11th win of the season, recording four strikeouts, and only allowing two hits.
GAME TWO: PATRIOTS DOMINATE THE TIGERS, 11-3
The Tigers were hot out of the gates, taking an early 1-0 lead off one hit in the top of the first inning. As the Patriots work from behind, they spark the bottom of the first with a leadoff walk from Oliver. Amber Gainer's speed sees her executing a bunt for a single followed by a sacrifice fly from Jade Gainer to move runners to second and third. A rip up the middle for Keatts gives UC the 2-1 lead to close out the first inning.
The top of the second saw the Tigers record their second hit of the game, but Atkins handles business as she throws out the runner at second followed by a ground ball to White to close the top of the second. The bottom of the second turned the tide for the Patriots, starting with a leadoff walk for Bryant. A bunt from White turned into a pair of defensive errors to see Bryant score to elevate UC to a 3-1 lead. Dale follows suit with an RBI double to left field along with an RBI double from Oliver to put the Patriots ahead, 5-1. The Tigers made a pitching change, but it was no match for Jade Gainer as she rips an RBI single up the middle to give the Pats a 6-1 lead at the end of the second inning.
The Tigers continued to be persistent, cutting Cumberlands' lead in half, 6-3, in the top of the third inning. Pitcher Talli Burgess came in for relief and shut down the side to send the Patriots back on offense. The Patriots worked quickly with a leadoff walk from Turnbow paired with a stolen base, however Cumberlands could not add to their lead. The top of the fourth was a quick one, two, three inning with Burgess recording her first strikeout of the game. The bottom of the fourth saw UC tack on another run courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Keatts to elevate the Pats to a 7-3 lead.
The top of the fifth saw the Tigers record a hit and garner a base runner, but seamless defense from Cumberlands' shut the door on the Tigers. The Pats saw a Bryant single in the bottom of the fifth but were unable to capitalize on opportunities. The top of the sixth saw a ground out, a fly out, and a swinging strikeout to keep the Tigers at bay. UC flipped the script in the top of the sixth, sparked by an Alyssa Gent pinch hit single to right center. Oliver steps in the box and blasts a two-run shot off the left field pole to give Cumberlands' a 9-3 lead. Amber Gainer follows suit, going back-to-back with a solo homerun of her own over the left center field fence. With a 10-3 lead and a run-rule threat, Jade Gainer carries the momentum with a triple off the center field fence. Keatts records her fourth RBI of the day off a sacrifice fly to secure the series sweep and an 11-3 run-rule victory over the Tigers.
LEADERS
Leading the way offensively, Jade Gainer was 3-4 at the plate with one RBI and one run while Oliver was 2-3 at the plate with three RBIs and three runs. Amber Gainer went 2-3 at the plate with one RBI and three runs followed by Keatts who was 1-2 with four RBIs.
Pitcher Burgess collected her 11th win of the season after tossing 3.1 innings, recording three strikeouts, and only allowing one hit.
UC will hit the road to Athens, TN to face Tennessee Wesleyan in a non-conference match-up on Wednesday, April 3rd. The single game is slated for a 3:00 p.m. (EST) first pitch.
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