Williamsburg, KY – The one-seeded Cumberland Patriots advance to the championship game of the 2024 NAIA Softball Opening Round, Williamsburg Bracket, after facing second-seeded Benedictine College (KS). The Patriots dominated the Ravens, courtesy of a two-run blast from senior Bailey Turnbow. Alongside Turnbow, the Patriots pitching staff recorded three strikeouts and held the Ravens to one run on the day. UC improves to an overall record of 46-7 on the year.

PLAY-BY-PLAY
In the first inning, the Ravens were the first to record a hit on the day but strong coverage from the Patriots defense held the Ravens scoreless. In their first time at the plate, Jade Gainer reaches first and advances to second on a throwing error from the Ravens. With a runner in scoring position, Cumberlands is unable to capitalize and sends the game into the second inning. The top of the second saw the Ravens record another base runner, but a line drive to shortstop Aniyah White ends the threat. The bottom of the second saw the Patriots continuing to put the ball in play but were unable to muster a baserunner as the game was sent to the third inning.

In the top of the third, the Ravens collected their third and fourth hit of the game and threatened with bases loaded and one out. Left fielder Jade Gainer makes a run-saving diving catch in shallow left field for the second out of the inning, immediately followed by shortstop White with a leaping grab to end the top of the third. Looking to strike, Kaysee Dale opens the bottom of the third with Cumberlands' first hit of the game. With a runner on first, the Patriots continued to put hard hits in play but were unable to find a gap as the game entered the fourth inning, scoreless.

Pitcher Lindsey Shope, who was dubbed the start, recorded her first strikeout in four quick pitches along with a pop up to second basemen Oliver and a grounder to third basemen Emily Bryant to close the top of the fourth. The Patriots fell to two outs early, but a single through the 5-6 hole from Amber Atkins followed suit by a two-run no doubter off the bat of Bailey Turnbow. Cumberlands enters the fifth inning with a 2-0 lead, where the Ravens go down one, two, three to move the game into the bottom of the fifth frame. The Patriots continued to work the ball hard on the ground but were unable to find a gap.

The top of the sixth inning saw the Ravens record a hit and their first run of the game to cut the deficit, 2-1. A clutch strikeout from relief pitcher Kaitlyn Schofield closes the inning and the Ravens threat to send the game into the bottom of the sixth. An electric inning was sparked by a two out single to right field from Makenzie Keatts paired with a blooper single to shallow right center, seeing pinch runner Cloe Smith make her way from first to third. Pinch runners Smith and Logan Riley both advanced on the base path, seeing Smith cross home for a crucial insurance run. With a 4-1 lead, Turnbow works deep into her count and draws a walk. With runners on second and third, Bryant rips a shot through the right side to push the fifth run of the game across and close the inning.

Looking for three outs, pitcher Schofield serves up a routine grounder to Oliver for the first out of the inning. Schofield follows suit with her second strikeout of the game, rounded out by a groundout to Oliver for the final out of the game. The Patriots secured the 5-1 victory over the Ravens to secure their ticket to the championship game of the NAIA Opening Round.

LEADERS
Leading the way offensively, Atkins was 2-3 at the plate with one run followed by Turnbow who was 1-2 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs. Bryant was 1-3 at the plate with one RBI while Dale and Keatts recorded a hit apiece.

Pitcher Shope recorded her 17th win of the season after tossing 5.0 innings, recording one strikeout, and only allowing four hits. Pitcher Schofield recorded her third save of the season, recording two strikeouts and only allowing one hit.

Cumberlands will compete in the championship game of the 2024 NAIA Softball Opening Round, Williamsburg Bracket. Their opponent will be the winner of game seven, the opponent not yet determined. Game time is slated for 11:00 a.m. (EST) but may change due to weather.