Williamsburg, KY – The No. 1 seeded Patriots (49-6) shut out the fifth seed Park University (36-18) with strong offensive power, scoring 25 runs off 21 hits, tying the program single-season wins record. UC recorded six home runs to tie their season high, one triple, and seven doubles. The pitching staff struck out 14 batters without surrendering any free bases, while defending the Cumberlands lead with no runs allowed.

Knicko Billings started on the mound, ultimately earning his ninth win of the season. The Miramar, FL native threw eight strikeouts across six innings, while allowing eight hits. He went three up, three down in three innings.  Entering in relief, Zach Carlsen completed 2.2 innings, recording five strikeouts and allowing two hits. Jorge Garcia made his second appearance of the season, striking out the final batter.

At the plate, Charlie Muñiz batted perfectly, notching three home runs to meet his single-game career high, in three at-bats, for four RBIs. Clay Shelton also finished 3-for-3 with four RBIs, tallying a home run, a double, and a single. Going 2-for-3, Caden Petrey recorded four RBIs off a double and a homer. The center fielder, Evan St. Claire, went 2-for-5 with a home run and batted in three runs.

Charlie Muñiz kicked off the game for the Patriots, sending a solo shot over the left field fence for a 1-0 lead, in the bottom of the first.

In the bottom of the second frame, UC added two runs to lead 3-0. Three consecutive walks to Johnboy Rittenhouse, Alec Gonzalez, and Ben Snapp loaded the bases. Trent Prokes sent Rittenhouse across the plate on a sacrifice fly, and Gonzalez took advantage of a wild pitch to score.

Cumberlands tacked on a nine-spot in the bottom of three, extending their lead to 12-0. Muñiz led off with another solo homer and was followed by a pair of walks issued to Evan St. Claire and Max Harper. Johnboy Rittenhouse laid down a bunt single to advance the runners, and St. Claire was able to head home on a wild pitch. Gonzalez took his second walk of the game and Ben Snapp sent Harper across the plate with a sacrifice fly. Back-to-back RBI doubles hit courtesy of Prokes and Petrey plated two more Patriots. In Christian Thompson's at-bat, Petrey advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a ground-out. Batting around, Muñiz was issued a walk, and substituted for pinch runner Jay Flynn, who rounded the bases on a two-run homer from St. Claire.

For a 16-0 advantage, Petrey and Muniz both tallied two-run long balls, in the bottom of the fourth frame.

After a scoreless fifth inning, Petrey and Thompson reached on a walk and hit-by-pitch, before Clay Shelton sent them home with a three-run homer to left field, 19-0.

In the bottom of seven, the Pats added four insurance runs to their lead, taking the score to 23-0. Gonzalez opened the inning with a single to right field, while Snapp followed with a double down the left line. Seth Benner sent Gonzalez across the plate with a single to right field. On a sacrifice fly from Jose Valentin, Snapp plated a run. A pair of singles by Thompson and Shelton loaded the bases, and Benner scored on a St. Claire sacrifice fly. For the last run of the frame, Harper knocked a double to right field.

UC achieved their final lead of 25-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning. A hard-hit triple to center field from Gonzalez and a walked Jay Flynn put runners on the corners. Benner reached on a fielder's choice and recorded an RBI, as Gonzalez crossed the plate. Thompson was hit by a pitch for the second at-bat in a row, advancing Benner to second base. With a double to center field, Shelton enabled Benner to score the 25^th Cumberlands run.

The No. 1 seeded Patriots will face third-seeded Loyola on Tuesday May 14^th at 1 p.m. ET, in game five of the NAIA Opening Round Williamsburg bracket.

No. 4 seed Saint Francis is set to play No. 2 seed Bellevue at 10 a.m. in game four of the bracket.

The winner of game four will play No. 5 seed Park at 4 p.m. in game six.

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.