Campbellsville, KY – The No. 4 Patriots concluded their final Mid-South Conference series of the 2024 season on the road against Campbellsville University. UC bounced back with a full team effort to sweep the day (14-10, 7-2) and secure the series win. The Patriots record runs on hits and the pitching staff. Cumberlands concludes the regular season with an overall record of 42-5 and a MSC record of 23-1.
GAME ONE: PATRIOTS OFFENSIVE FIRE TAMES TIGERS, 14-10
After falling to two outs in the top of the first, Jade Gainer sparked a rally with a single to shortstop before swiping second. A Makenzie Keatts walk followed by an RBI single from Amber Atkins put the Pats on the board first. Atkins proceeded to swipe second paired with a Turnbow walk to load the bases, Emily Bryant was seen capitalizing on defensive errors from the Tigers to tack on another run and leave the bases loaded. Aniyah White approaches the plate and rips a single into right field to collect UC's third run of the first inning. The Patriots worked quick on defense behind pitcher Talli Burgess to prevent the Tigers from scoring in the first inning.
Not satisfied with their 3-0 lead, the Pats carried the momentum into the top of the second starting with a Carly Oliver single through the 5-6 hole. An Amber Gainer double down the right field line puts runners on second and third, seeing Jade Gainer collect an RBI courtesy of Oliver's speed. With a lone runner on third, a well-executed squeeze bunt from Keatts saw Amber Gainer cross the plate for a 5-0 Patriot advantage. Turnbow drew a walk after a disciplined plate approach paired with a Bryant RBI single to left field for a 6-0 UC lead. Back on defense, Burgess recorded a quick three-up, three-down inning to send UC back on offense.
The top of the third was ignited by a Morgan Radford double to left center. Oliver and Amber Gainer quickly add three more runs to the Patriots lead with an Oliver two-run shot over the left field fence followed by Amber Gainer's solo shot over the center field fence. The bottom of the third saw the Tigers persistent efforts, recording nine runs on six hits to create an even playing field at the end of the third inning (9-9). The Patriots eagerly recaptured the lead with a Bryant hit by pitch paired with a White single, seeing Bryant score on a pair of defensive errors. Pitcher Lindsey Shope came in for relief and held the Tigers at bay as the fourth frame closed.
The top of the fifth saw back-to-back singles from the Gainer twins, seeing a sacrifice bunt from Keatts to move runners into scoring position. Atkins steps into the box and blasts a three-run bomb down the left field line to elevate UC's lead to 13-9. Back on defensive in the bottom half of the inning, the Patriots defense continued to rally behind Shope and prevent the Tigers from tacking on another run. The top of the sixth inning featured a White single to left field paired with an Amber Gainer double to tack on the Patriots 14th run of the game. The bottom of the sixth saw the Tigers tack on another run on three hits to cut the deficit to 14-10, but strong defensive efforts behind relief pitcher Morgan Radford secured the Patriots game one victory.
LEADERS
Leading the way offensively, Amber Gainer went 4-5 at the plate with two RBIs and three runs while Jade Gainer was 3-5 at the plate with one RBI and two runs. White was 3-4 at the plate, tallying two RBIs and one run followed by Oliver who was 2-5 at the plate, tallying two RBIs and two runs.
Pitcher Lindsey Shope collected her 15th win of the season after tossing 3.0 innings while Pitcher Morgan Radford recorded her third save of the season after tossing 1.1 innings.
GAME TWO: PATRIOTS SECURE SERIES AGAINST TIGERS, 7-2
In game two, both teams had a quiet first inning. The Patriots recorded their first hit of the game in the top of the second inning, courtesy of an Atkins single up the middle, but were unable to muster their first run. In the bottom half of the second inning, the Tigers recorded their first run on two hits to leave UC trailing 1-0. The top of the third featured a leadoff single to right field from Kaysee Dale followed by an Amber Gainer bunt to place runners on second and third. A sacrifice fly from Jade Gainer saw Dale cross home and tie the game at 1-1. A relentlessly Tigers offense saw them tally another run on three hits to recapture the lead at 2-1. Both teams were unable to record a run in the fourth inning, sending the game into the top of the fifth frame.
The top of the fifth inning saw the Patriots turn the tide, starting with Dale capitalizing on Tiger defensive errors to reach first. An Amber Gainer hit by pitch placed runners on first and second, followed by Jade Gainer knocking an RBI single up the middle to tie the score at 2-2. Another well-executed squeeze bunt from Keatts saw Cumberlands recapture the lead, 3-2. Carrying the momentum, Atkins rips an RBI single to left field followed by Turnbow reaching on Tiger defensive errors. With runs in scoring position, Bryant blasts a three-run shot to elevate the Patriots lead to 7-2. Pitcher Kaitlyn Schofield closed the fifth inning with a two ground outs and a pop fly to hold the Tigers at bay.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Patriots continued to put hard groundballs into play but were unable to muster a base runner. Cumberlands' defense rallied behind Schofield to hold the Tigers at two runs. The seventh inning saw Keatts garner a walk, but the Pats were unable to add to their lead. The bottom half of the seventh saw Schofield record her third strikeout of the game and secure a 7-2 victory over the Tigers, along with the series win.
LEADERS
Leading the way offensively, Atkins was 2-4 at the plate with one RBI and one run while Amber Gainer was 1-3 at the plate with one run. Jade Gainer was 1-3 at the plate with two RBIs and one run followed by Bryant who was 1-2 at the plate with three RBIs and one run.
Pitcher Kaitlyn Schofield recorded her sixth win of the season after tossing a complete game, tallying three strikeouts and only allowing six hits.
The Patriots will hit the road to compete in the Mid-South Conference Tournament next week in Bowling Green, KY. The Tournament will start on Thursday, May 2nd and run through Sunday, May 5th. Game times and opponents are to be announced at a later date.
For the latest and most up-to-date information on University of the Cumberlands Athletics. Please visit www.cumberlandspatriots.com. Follow us on Twitter- @UC_Patriots and @UCPatsGameday, Instagram- @UCPatriots, TikTok- @ucpatriots, Youtube- Cumberlands Patriots, and Facebook by searching University of the Cumberlands Athletics.
