Williamsburg, KY – The No. 4 Patriots (33-5) run-ruled Pikeville (24-13), 16-6, in seven innings on Wednesday evening at Doyle Buhl Stadium. UC hitters compiled 17 hits, six of which were home runs, while the pitching staff struck out nine batters.

Dustin Sprong took the start on the mound, throwing five strikeouts and allowing six runs on eight hits. After entering in relief to throw the final out of the fifth inning, Zach Carlsen earned the win and moves to 1-1. Joe Bertram and Michael Tolson each threw 1 complete inning, and both recorded two strikeouts.

Johnboy Rittenhouse led at the plate, batting 3-for-5 with career-highs of six RBIs and two homers. Going 3-for-4, Max Harper recorded two home runs and three RBIs, with four runs scored. Evan St. Claire finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run.

UC took an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of one. Christian Thompson opened with a double to left center and scored on an RBI single from Charlie Muñiz. A pair of back-to-back home runs by Evan St. Claire and Max Harper tacked three more runs on the board.

In the bottom of the second frame, the Patriots extended their lead to 9-0. Trent Prokes led off with a single to left center and was followed by a walked Caden Petrey. To send Prokes home, Thompson doubled down the left line. Muñiz earned another RBI on a sacrifice fly that enabled Petrey to cross the plate. In the next at-bat, St. Claire singled and advanced on a throw as Thompson scored. For two more runs, Harper sent a shot over the left field fence.

Pikeville responded in the top of the third with an RBI double but trailed 9-2.

After a scoreless fourth inning, St. Claire and Harper were both walked and brought home on a home run by Johnboy Rittenhouse. In back-to-back fashion, Alec Gonzalez homered in the next at-bat for a lead of 13-2.

The Bears added four runs off four hits to trim the deficit to 13-6, in the top of five.

In the bottom of the seventh, Cumberlands took a run-rule victory with a final score of 16-6. The second batter of the inning, Muñiz, was issued a walk and substituted for pinch runner Jay Flynn. Harper followed with a single through the left side. To clear the bases, Rittenhouse sent his second long ball of the game over the left field fence, securing the win.

#4 UC Baseball will host Mid-South Conference opponent #22 Freed-Hardeman for a weekend series beginning on Friday April 12^th at 3 p.m.

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