Lewiston, ID – The Patriots (52-8) conclude a monumental season, finishing 1-2 at the 2024 Avista NAIA World Series, after falling to No. 1 Southeastern, 12-5. Cumberlands completed a historic run, collecting the most wins in a single season of program history, as well as securing a win in the NAIA World Series for the first time.
On the mound,
Kailen Hamson (6-1) took the start and threw six strikeouts across four innings, while allowing five runs off seven hits.
Dustin Sprong entered for one inning, striking out one batter and allowing two runs off two hits.
Cooper Morgan threw 2.1 innings, and allowed just one run on one hit, while
Chipper Korbacher secured the final two outs.
At the plate,
Ben Snapp finished 1-for-3, recording three RBIs from a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly. Batting 2-for-4, Charlie Muñiz hit a single and record-breaking home run 143 for the Patriots.
Alec Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a single and an RBI ground out.
The Fire were first to score, leading 1-0 in the bottom of the first.
In the bottom of the second, Southeastern plated one run on an RBI single, 2-0.
With another RBI single in the bottom of the third, the Fire led 3-0.
Southeastern tacked on one more, 4-0, in the bottom of the fourth frame on a sacrifice fly.
The Patriots hopped on the board in the top of the fifth, chipping the lead away, 4-1.
Johnboy Rittenhouse led off with a double to right center, and
Alec Gonzalez advanced him to third with a single to left center.
Ben Snapp got the job done with a sacrifice fly to bring Rittenhouse across the plate.
In the bottom of the same inning, Southeastern retaliated, scoring three runs off three hits, 7-1.
UC responded with four runs in the top of the sixth, trimming the deficit to 7-5. Charlie Muñiz opened the inning with a solo shot to left field. The next batter,
Evan St. Claire was issued a walk and Rittenhouse joined him on base after being walked, as well. Both base runners took advantage of a wild pitch to advance, and Gonzalez plated St. Claire with an RBI ground out, for the final Patriot run of the season.
After a scoreless inning, the Fire pulled away with five runs in the bottom of the eight, which the Patriots were unable to answer, 12-5.
UC broke six single-season team records this year: Home runs (144), RBIs (626), Runs Scored (660), Walks (356), Strikeouts (608), and Wins (52).
As for individual records, Charlie Muñiz sits atop the record books: Career Hits (275), Career Home Runs (78), Single-Season Home Runs (36), Career RBIs (239), and Single-Season RBIs (101), while starting all 60 games of the season.
Cesar Avila etched his name into the record books from the mound: Single-Season Strikeouts (124) and Single-Season Wins (13).
Chipper Korbacher earned his place in the record books: Single-Season Saves (12) and Career Appearances (68).
Evan St. Claire broke the Single-Season Runs Scored record (87).
The Patriots wrap up an incredible year on the field; and are slated to have a strong return for the 2025 season.
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