Williamsburg, KY – The fourth-ranked Patriots (40-5, 14-1) defended their reign as Mid-South Conference Regular Season Champions in back-to-back seasons, after completing their fourth MSC series sweep over Cumberland (21-24, 4-11) on Saturday afternoon, at Doyle Buhl Stadium. UC defeated the Phoenix 14-0 and 14-9, totaling 31 hits and eight home runs, while the pitching staff struck out 24 batters, across the two games.

No. 4 Patriots Shut Out Cumberland, 14-0
Cesar Avila started on the mound and threw a shut-out against the Phoenix. He pitched seven full innings, recording ten strikeouts and allowing just one hit, and improved to 9-0.  

At the plate, Johnboy Rittenhouse went 2-for-4 and accounted for four RBIs after hitting his first grand slam. Caden Petrey finished 4-for-4, marking four RBIs off two home runs. Hitting 2-for-4, Ben Snapp collected one double and two RBIs.

The Pats were first to score, taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom of one. Christian Thompson was issued a lead-off walk and went home on a Charlie Muñiz homer to left center. After reaching base on a single, Max Harper advanced to second on a wild pitch and was sent home on an RBI double by Ben Snapp.

In the bottom of the second inning, UC extended their lead over the Phoenix to 7-0. The lead-off batter, Petrey, opened the inning with a single through the left side. He was joined on base by Muñiz, who was hit by a pitch. After Max Harper was issued a walk to load the bases, Johnboy Rittenhouse knocked a grand slam out of the park.

Cumberlands added two runs, for a 9-0 lead, in the bottom of the third frame. Trent Prokes doubled to right center and scored when Petrey homered to left field.

The Patriots put up two solo home runs by Petrey and Muniz, taking the score to 11-0, in the bottom of five.

In the bottom of the sixth, UC plated three runs off five hits, for a final score of 14-0. Rittenhouse singled to reach base, and took second on an Alec Gonzalez single. Three RBI singles from Snapp, Prokes, and Petrey in a row strengthened the Patriot win and secured the Mid-South Conference Regular Season Champions title.  

No. 4 Patriots Sweep the Phoenix, 14-9
On the mound, Cooper Morgan took the game three start, throwing three innings with three strikeouts and five runs allowed. Kailen Hamson (5-0) entered in relief and completed three innings as he recorded seven strikeouts and two runs, to earn the win. Across 1.2 innings, Dustin Sprong struck out three batters and allowed one run. Marking his tenth save of the season, Chipper Korbacher pitched the final two outs to defend the sweep.

Caden Petrey finished 3-for-5 at the plate. He tied two career-highs by hitting three home runs for seven RBIs. Johnboy Rittenhouse batted 1-for-3, with an RBI double and three runs scored.
Cumberland scored early in the top of the first on a two-run homer to center field, 2-0.

The Patriots responded in the bottom of two, putting up a six-spot to take a 6-2 lead. The first two batters, Max Harper and Johnboy Rittenhouse were issued back-to-back walks. Alec Gonzalez loaded the bases with an infield single hit to the pitcher. One run scored on an error by the Phoenix shortstop that enabled Ben Snapp to reach base. For his first home run of the day, Caden Petrey launched a grand slam over the left field fence. With the bases cleared, Christian Thompson was walked and scored after Evan St. Claire singled and advanced to second on a failed pick-off error.

The Phoenix trimmed the deficit to 6-5, in the top of the third inning, with three runs off a wild pitch and a runner caught advancing.

In the bottom of the same frame, UC answered with two runs, leading 8-5. Rittenhouse was walked to lead-off the inning and advanced to second on a balk by Cumberland's pitcher. Gonzalez flied out to center field, but enabled Rittenhouse to take third on the throw. On a fielder's choice by Snapp, the runner scored. Petrey also reached base on a fielder's choice and took second on a Clay Shelton single. Thompson followed with a walk to load the bases. St. Claire walked in a run to end the inning.

CU hit a homer, adding one run to the board, 8-6, in the top of four.

The Pats extended their lead to 11-6 in the bottom of the sixth, marking three runs off three hits. After doubling to right center, Rittenhouse scored on a single hit by Snapp. Petrey knocked his second home run of the game out of the park, plating two runs.

A two-run long ball by the Phoenix took the score to 11-8, in the top of the seventh inning.

In the bottom of seven, the Cumberlands added two runs for a score of 13-8. Charlie Muñiz doubled to left center, and Harper sent him across the plate with a double to the same spot. Harper went home on a single by Rittenhouse.

UC put their final run on the board, as Petrey homered for the third time, for a 14-8 lead in the bottom of the eighth frame.

Cumberland scored one more in the top of nine, on an RBI single to right field, but it was not enough to take the lead, 14-9.

No. 4 UC Baseball will host IU-Kokomo in their final home game of the regular season, on Tuesday April 23^rd at 5 p.m.

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