Williamsburg, KY – On Tuesday afternoon at Doyle Buhl Stadium, the one-seeded Patriots (50-6) bested the third-seed Loyola (37-18), 16-8, to secure a new single-season program win record, on Tuesday afternoon. UC's batters tallied 18 hits across the game, matching yesterday's six home runs and marking four doubles, while the pitching staff struck out 15 hitters

Cesar Avila tied the Cumberlands season-high wins record, earning his 12^th after throwing 11 strikeouts across seven strong innings. Entering in relief, Joe Bertram tallied three strikeouts and allowed four runs off two hits. Jared Shelton closed for the Pats, throwing the final two outs with one strikeout.

Offensively, Johnboy Rittenhouse had a successful day at the plate. The junior batted 4-for-5 with a career-high of three homers in a single game for a total of eight RBIs. Evan St. Claire went 2-for-4, marking a home run, three RBIs, and two walks.

UC jumped on the board with an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Christian Thompson opened the day for Cumberlands with a double down the left line, followed by an intentionally walked Muniz, who was substituted for pinch runner Jay Flynn. Max Harper loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch, allowing Johnboy Rittenhouse to walk in a run in the next at-bat. With a sacrifice fly, Alec Gonzalez sent Flynn across the plate.

In the bottom of the same frame, the Wolfpack evened the score with two runs off a two RBI single.

After a scoreless inning, the Patriots shifted back into a 4-2 lead. Evan St. Claire led off with a walk and was sent home with a strong homer over the left center fence.  

For a 7-5 lead, Cumberlands scored two runs in the top of four. Thompson reached on an infield single to the shortstop and Charlie Muniz, who was substituted for pinch runner Flynn, sent him home with an RBI double through the left side. St. Claire singled through the five-six hole and Rittenhouse enabled both base runners to cross the plate with a two RBI single.
UC extended their lead to 8-2 in the top of the fifth inning. To pack the bags, Caden Petrey sent a double to right, Thompson singled, and Muniz was intentionally walked. St. Claire tallied an RBI after walking in a run to end the frame.

A solo knock down the left line, hit by Ben Snapp, put the Pats up 9-0, in the top of six.

In the top of the seventh frame, Cumberlands strengthened the lead to 11-2. With two outs, Harper was issued a walk and brought home on Rittenhouse's second long ball of the game.
For a 14-2 lead, the Patriots recorded a two-homer inning, in the top of the eighth. Petrey sent a solo bomb over the left field fence. Muniz was hit by a pitch, and substituted for pinch runner Flynn, who scored on a St. Claire homer.

Loyola put two runs on the board, utilizing a fielding error and a fielder's choice, 14-4.

The Patriots scored two runs off two hits in the top of the final inning, for a 16-4 lead. For his third home run of the day, Rittenhouse led off with a solo knock to left field. Gonzalez followed with a single to right, and was joined on base by a walked Trent Prokes. Petrey advanced Gonzalez with a fielder's choice, and he was ultimately sent across the plate on an RBI double from Thompson.

In the bottom of the ninth frame, the Wolfpack tacked on four runs, but were unable to produce sufficient runs at the plate, for a final score of 16-8.

One-seeded UC Baseball will play in game eight of the NAIA Opening round, facing the winner of the game seven game, on Wednesday May 15^th at 3 p.m. ET.

Game seven will be played between the winner of game six and #3 seed Loyola.

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