Bowling Green, KY – The third ranked Patriots (45-6, 18-1) run-ruled Lindsey Wilson, 18-1, in their Mid-South Conference Tournament opener, on Thursday afternoon at the Bowling Green Ballpark. Cumberlands totaled 10 hits, with one double and a homer, while Knicko Billings held Lindsey Wilson to just five hits.

On the mound, Knicko Billings marked a complete game, throwing all seven innings. The senior recorded nine strikeouts and only two walks after 111 pitches. He held the Blue Raiders to just one run and five hits and improved to 8-0 on the season.

Johnboy Rittenhouse led the Pats at the plate, batting 2-for-5, with a three-run home run and a total of six RBIs. The first baseman, Max Harper, went 1-for-3, batting in four runs. Evan St. Claire walked in three runs to help UC.

After two scoreless innings, Lindsey Wilson scored their only run of the game off an RBI single, in the top of the third, 1-0.

UC responded with two runs in the bottom of the same frame, to shift into a 2-1 lead. With two outs, Christian Thompson was issued a walk and Charlie Muñiz, who was substituted on base for pinch runner Jay Flynn, was hit by a pitch. Evan St. Claire was walked to load the bases, and two runers went home on a single hit by Max Harper.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Cumberlands plated four runs to extend the lead to 6-1. Back-to-back singles by Alec Gonzalez and Ben Snapp put two runners on. Trent Prokes loaded the bases with an issues walked, and the Pats advanced on an RBI walk to Thompson. Another run scored when Muñiz was hit by a pitch. St. Claire walked in a run to end the inning.
The Patriots put up a six-spot in the bottom of the fifth inning, 12-1. Gonzalez led off with another single, took second base on a wild pitch, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Snapp. The shortstop went home on a wild pitch. Prokes and Thompson were walked and moved around the bases after Muniz singled to the shortstop. A pair of RBI walks to St. Claire and Harper plated two runs. Johnboy Rittenhouse doubled to right center, to clear the bases.

Cumberlands added six insurance runs for an 18-1 lead, in the bottom of six. Snapp led off with a single down the right line and was joined on base by a walked Prokes. Thompson advanced the runners with a single to left and was followed by Muñiz, who recorded an RBI after being hit by a pitch. The next batter, St. Claire, walked in his third run of the day to keep the bases loaded. Harper marked a sacrifice fly to center field and Rittenhouse ended the game with a three-run long ball over the left field fence.

The #3 Patriots are set to play in game six of the Mid-South Conference Tournament at 2:30 p.m. CT against the loser of the Freed-Hardeman/Georgetown game.

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.