Lewiston, ID – The third-seeded Patriots (51-7) fell in a tough matchup to the sixth-seed, Tennessee Wesleyan (41-16), 7-4, on Friday evening, at Harris Field. UC hitters combined for six hits, while the pitching staff struck out four in their first game of the 2024 Avista NAIA World Series.
Knicko Billings took the start on the mound, throwing three strikeouts across 5.2 innings and allowing three earned runs on nine hits. Entering in relief, Cooper Morgan (4-1) was credited with the loss, and threw one strikeout in two innings, while allowing three runs on three hits. Chipper Korbacher closed the game for UC, surrendering no runs and no hits, for 1.1 innings, to tie the Cumberlands Baseball career appearances record (66).
At the plate, Christian Thompson batted 3-for-3, recording three singles and two runs scored. Max Harper went 1-for-3, with an RBI double and a sacrifice fly. Going 2-for-4, Alec Gonzalez hit two singles and was walked once.
The Bulldogs quickly put one run on the board, 1-0, with a sacrifice fly to center field, in the top of the first.
In the top of the next frame, Tennessee Wesleyan recorded an RBI single, for a 2-0 lead.
The Patriots evened the score at 2-2, in the bottom of the third inning. Caden Petrey opened the inning with a lead-off walk and advanced on a single by Christian Thompson. On a fielder's choice and a throwing error on the Bulldog pitcher, Charlie Muniz sent Petrey home for UC's first run of the game. Max Harper marked a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Thompson.
Tennessee Wesleyan knocked a two-run homer to reclaim the lead in the top of four, 4-2.
UC fought to plate two runs, tying the game at 4-4, in the bottom of the fifth frame. Thompson began the inning with a single to left, and was followed by a walked Muniz, who was substituted for pinch runner Jay Flynn. A double down the left line from Harper sent Thompson across the plate. Johnboy Rittenhouse reached on a throwing error by TWU's shortstop and earned an RBI as Flynn scored the Patriots' last run.
In the top of the eighth inning, the Bulldogs shifted into their final 7-4 lead, with a two RBI double and an RBI single.
No. 3 seed Cumberlands will play the loser of game four between No. 7 seed William Carey and No. 10 seed Indiana Southeast, on Saturday May 25th at 11:35 a.m. PDT / 2:35 EDT.
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