Williamsburg, KY – The third-ranked Cumberlands softball team exploded for 20 runs, while eight different Patriots record multiple hits on the day as UC defeated Trinity Christian 10-0 before topping Northwestern Ohio 10-2 Friday afternoon at the UC Softball Complex.  With the wins, UC improves to 4-1 overall on the season.

Jade Gainer led the way for UC going 4-7 with five RBI, while Maliyah Wilkins and Bailey Turnbow each tallied four hits and combined for eight RBI's.  Carly Oliver went 4-5 with three walks and four runs scored as Aniyah White and Amber Atkins each drove in a pair of runs. 
 
Game 1: Pats Utilize Eight Run Fourth Inning to Defeat Trinity Christian 10-0
 
Lindsey Shope set the tone for UC in the first game of the day as she entered the circle for her second complete game of the season while striking out a pair. Shope continued to have command of her pitches, pitching to contact, and scattering just three hits over five innings of work to improve to 2-0 on the season. Five different Patriots notched multiple hits in the game, led by Turnbow, who went 2-3 with three RBI.  White and Jade Gainer also drove in two each.

UC put runners on base in both the first and second innings however couldn't push them around keeping the game scoreless.  The Patriots broke through in the bottom of the third as Marquila Howell hit a one-out single to right before stealing second.  After an Oliver walk, Amber Atkins reached base on an infield single that allowed Howell to score on a throwing error to put UC in front 1-0.  Turnbow followed with an RBI single to left extending UC's lead to 2-0.

Shope continued her strong outing in the fourth, striking out Packard to end the inning.  Cumberlands opened a two-out rally in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Amber Gainer opened with a single, while back-to-back infield singles by Howell and Oliver to load the bases.  Jade Gainer followed with a two-run single scoring Amber Gainer and Howell to make it 4-0.

After loading the bases again, Turnbow drilled a two-run single to left that scored Oliver and Jade Gainer to make it 6-0.  Jules Johnson was hit by the pitch to load the bases for UC, before White found the hole on the left side of the infield bringing home Atkins and Turnbow to extend the lead to 8-0.  Amber Gainer and Howell each added an RBI in the inning extending UC's lead to 10-0.

In the top of the fifth, Trinity Christian tallied a lead-off single before Shope tallied three straight outs for the 10-0 final.
 
Game 2: UC Notched Early Offensive Before Walking Off Against UNOH

Jade Gainer notched an RBI single to left that scored Amber Gainer in the fifth inning as UC earned the 10-2 walkoff win over Northwestern Ohio.  Jessica Cord improved to 2-0 on the year after tossing a complete game scattering five hits and striking out five.  Five Patriots had multi-hit games led by Jade Gainer, who went 3-4 with three RBI.  Maliyah Wilkins finished 2-3 with four RBIs.

The Racers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.  Cumberlands responded in the bottom half of the inning as Amber Gainer and Carly Oliver drew walks.  Jade Gainer followed with a bases clearing two-run triple to left-centerfield putting UC in front 2-1.  Amber Atkins brought home Jade Gainer to extend the lead to 3-1.  Two batters later, Wilkins hit one to left side scoring Atkins to make it 4-1.  Emma McDonald added her first RBI as a Patriot bringing Turnbow around to score giving Cumberlands the 5-1 lead after the first inning.

UNOH tacked on a run in the top of the second cutting the lead to 5-2.  Oliver and Jade Gainer notched consecutive one-out hits in the bottom of the second.  Two batters later, Turnbow singled to center that brought home Oliver to make it 6-2.  Wilkins followed with a three-run blast over the left field wall to give UC the 9-2 lead. 

Cord settled in on the circle limiting the Racers to just one hit over the next two innings.  Cord opened the fifth inning with a strikeout before getting a pop-up to third.  UNOH looked to cut into the lead, however, Howell made a strong throw to Atkins at the plate to get the runner keeping the score 9-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Amber Gainer led off with a bunt single, before Oliver drew the intentional walk.  That brought Jade Gainer to the plate, where she singled to left bringing home Amber Gainer for the 10-2 final.

The Patriots will return to the field on Tuesday, February 18^th, when they host (RV) Tennessee Wesleyan.  First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
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